Mali army reports coordinated strikes on its positions across seven towns

Mali's armed forces reported a series of coordinated attacks on multiple military positions across seven towns in the central and western regions of the country early Tuesday.

• Mali experienced coordinated attacks on military positions across seven towns, with perpetrators speculated to be linked to Islamist militant groups.
• Targeted areas included Diboli, Kayes, Sandere, and towns near borders with Mauritania and Senegal.
• Mali faces ongoing challenges from extremist insurgencies and Tuareg separatist movements despite stabilization efforts.

Mali's armed forces reported a series of coordinated attacks on multiple military positions across seven towns in the central and western regions of the country early Tuesday.

While the military statement did not disclose specific details about the assaults or identify the perpetrators, the nature of the attacks is consistent with recent operations carried out by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al Qaeda-linked militant group active in the region.

DON'T MISS THIS: 10 major factors driving positive and negative perceptions of Russia in Africa

The targeted towns include Diboli, located near the Senegalese border, and Kayes and Sandere. Additional attacks occurred in Nioro du Sahel and Gogoui, both situated northwest of the capital Bamako near the Mauritanian border and in Molodo and Niono in central Mali, Reuters reported.

No group has claimed responsibility yet, and a spokesperson for Mali’s armed forces has not responded to media inquiries.

Mounting security challenges

Mali, under military rule since 2020, continues to face security threats from Islamist insurgent groups, despite efforts to stabilize the country and the broader Sahel region.

The country remains under pressure from armed factions affiliated with both al Qaeda and the Islamic State, while also dealing with a longstanding separatist conflict involving Tuareg rebels in the north.

A recent wave of attacks by Islamist militants reportedly left over 100 Malian soldiers and allied mercenaries dead.

DON'T MISS THIS: Russia tightens military grip in West Africa with instructors in Equatorial Guinea

In response to escalating violence, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso signed a mutual defence pact in 2023 to bolster collective efforts against jihadist groups operating across their borders.

Further solidifying this regional alliance, Russia in April agreed to provide arms and military training to a newly established joint force formed by the three countries.

Moscow has increasingly capitalized on the unrest in West Africa’s Sahel region, driven by military coups and extremist violence, to expand its geopolitical influence.

Read More