The armed forces said they had stepped up measures to protect civilians most at risk, including helping residents of threatened camps relocate to Menaka. Patrols and security operations were continuing in the area.

A joint patrol of the Malian Armed Forces and their partners discovered the bodies of 54 civilians at a camp in Tagadayat, about 35 km southeast of Menaka in northeastern Mali, the military said in a statement on Saturday.

The patrol was deployed following reports of what the military described as terrorist attacks against civilians in the Menaka operational area. The statement did not specify when the attacks occurred or when the bodies were found.

The victims were buried at the scene. Nine survivors were also found and evacuated to Menaka, where they received care from the local health authorities, according to the statement.