BAMAKO, June 20 (Xinhua) -- A total of 132 civilians were killed in three villages in the rural commune of Bankass in central Mali, said a statement released on Monday by the Malian government.

       According to the Malian authorities, the peaceful populations of Diallassagou, Dianweli, Deguessagou villages and surroundings in the rural commune of Bankass were the subject of barbaric attacks on the night of June 18 to 19.

       Several perpetrators of the massacre have been formally identified, which are part of the fighters of the Katiba Macina of Amadou Koufa, according to the statement.

       The government strongly condemns these attacks and promises to engage all necessary means to find their perpetrators and bring them to justice.

       Mali has been facing security, political and economic crises since 2012, with insurgencies, jihadist incursions and inter-community violence killing thousands and displacing hundreds of thousands of others in the West African country.