China condemns deadly terror attacks in Mali

China on Monday condemned the recent terror attacks on Mali that claimed the lives of both civilians and soldiers last week, saying that Beijing is “firmly” against violent acts of terror.

“We mourn for the innocent victims in the terrorist attacks in Mali and offer our sympathies to the injured and the families who have lost loved ones,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told reporters in Beijing.

At least 49 civilians and 15 soldiers were killed in two separate terrorist attacks in the West African country on Thursday, authorities said.

According to a government statement, a passenger boat along the Niger River was attacked around noon, which was followed by a second attack on an army position in the northeastern Gao region. Fifty attackers were also “neutralized” in clashes with the army.

The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), affiliated with the al-Qaeda and DAESH/ISIS terrorist groups, claimed both attacks.

Militant and terrorist groups have been targeting soldiers and civilians in the northern and central regions of Mali since 2012.