The fighting initially began as an intensification of ethnic conflict between Bambara and Fulani militias, and escalated when Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin surrounded the city.

Mediation committees composed of leaders and elders from nearby villages attempted to negotiate the lifting of the siege, but Malian forces liberated it on October 22.

Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, a coalition of jihadist groups that merged in 2017, has intensified its operations in central Mali's Mopti and Ségou regions since 2020, with the main local affiliate Katiba Macina often being composed of Fulani youth.

[3] During the weekly market on October 6, armed men likely affiliated with JNIM kidnapped twenty people and killed one young man in Farabougou.

[6] The bridge between the villages and the towns of Dogofry and Touba Coura was destroyed, effectively leaving Farabougou and Kourouma Koubé encircled.

[4] The jihadists then tightened the siege on Farabougou, blocking imports and exports of food, along with slaughtering and capturing 3,000 cattle owned by the villagers.

[10] One resident in the town, speaking to RFI by phone, stated that he was fearful of stepping outside because jihadists were roaming the streets.

[17][18] Malian forces and dozos launched another offensive to recapture Farabougou on October 20, bypassing several villages that day.

One mediator stated that while the attackers referred to themselves as jihadists, their rationale for the siege was the killing of several Fulani residents by Bambara notables in and around Farabougou in early October.

[25] Meanwhile, large numbers of Malian vehicles were present around the village, preparing for a ground assault on the town if mediation failed.

On October 22, as Farabougou was being captured by Mali, the nearby village of Kourouma Koubé was attacked by jihadists, leaving one injured.

[25] Bamada reported that despite the jihadists fleeing Farabougou, the logistical support they had and the impassable road connecting the town to Dogofry meant that the chance of a second attack was extremely high.

[28] Mediation efforts in the area made dozos lay down their arms in exchange for Fulani militants not attacking their livestock and returning the ones they stole.

[31] The government of Niono Cercle organized an intercommunity conference in early November to enlarge the discussions from ANCRD.