Mali's army reported repelling the assaults while the attackers claimed control over several barracks, reflecting the ongoing threat posed by Islamist insurgents.
Jihadist Assaults Intensify on Mali's Military Posts Amid Growing Insecurity
Jihadist Assaults Intensify on Mali's Military Posts Amid Growing Insecurity
Recent coordinated attacks by jihadist groups on Mali's military installations have raised alarm about escalating violence in the region.
Jihadist fighters have executed a series of coordinated attacks on military installations in multiple towns across Mali, marking the third major offensive in just one month. As the violence escalates, Mali's army asserts that it has successfully repelled the attacks while claiming to have "neutralized" over 80 militants, although details on military casualties remain unclear.
The group responsible for the onslaught, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), declared through social media that they seized control of three army barracks during the strikes. The conflict in Mali has persisted for over a decade, fueled not only by jihadist uprisings but also by separatist movements seeking autonomy.
Army spokesperson Souleymane Dembele stated in a national broadcast, "The enemy suffered significant losses in every location where they engaged with the security and defense forces," also noting the recovery of weapons, vehicles, and motorcycles from the assailants. Reports indicate that attacks were carried out in seven towns, including Binoli, Kayes, and Sandere, near the Senegal border, as well as further north by the Mauritanian frontier.
In Kayes, a local resident described a disturbing morning filled with gunfire and rising smoke, indicating the ferocity of the conflict. JNIM characterized its operations as "coordinated and high quality" but did not disclose casualty figures. The group has previously claimed responsibility for significant attacks, including an assault on an army camp and an airport in Timbuktu earlier in June, and a raid resulting in the deaths of at least 30 soldiers in central Mali.
These attacks highlight the increasing instability within Mali and the Sahel region as a whole. The United States Africa Command has expressed growing concern over the expanding activities of various Islamist militant factions in the region, warning that their potential access to West Africa's coastline could enhance capabilities for smuggling and arms trafficking. The worsening security situation raises serious implications for regional stability and safety.
