An armed robbery took place on Friday, January 16, 2026, around 5:00 PM on the road linking Diakhaba, in the commune of Bembou, to the village of Dioura, in the commune of Tomboronkoto, in the department of Kédougou. The incident occurred in an isolated area, known to be difficult to access and lacking cell phone coverage.

According to information gathered from the victims, it was difficult for them to determine the exact number of individuals involved in the robbery. However, they estimate that there were approximately ten assailants. These assailants are believed to have ambushed motorists at a thalweg, a type of culvert where vehicles are forced to slow down, thus facilitating the attack.

The victims reported that the perpetrators spoke Pulaar and Malinke. Armed with a rifle, machetes, and sticks, they allegedly used these weapons to intimidate the travelers before robbing them. At the end of the robbery, the assailants made off with an estimated 3,425,000 CFA francs and 13 mobile phones.

Fortunately, no loss of life was recorded during this attack, although there was great fear among the victims.

Upon being informed, the defense and security forces, including elements of the Kédougou gendarmerie company, the Saraya territorial brigade, the GARSI (Special Intervention Group for Security and Intervention) and the ESIK (Special Intervention Group for Security and Intervention), quickly deployed to the scene to carry out the usual investigations. A search was immediately organized in the surrounding area.

During the operation, two cell phones were recovered at the scene of the robbery. Security forces also found four packets of marijuana and a Haojin motorcycle, whose owner remains at large.

People contacted by Seneweb point out that the lack of telephone coverage in this area greatly delayed the alert from the defense and security forces, thus complicating a faster intervention.

An investigation has been launched to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of this armed robbery.