A group affiliated with al-Qaeda has claimed responsibility for a significant assault on the Malian town of Boulikessi, resulting in the seizure of a military base.
Sources cited by Reuters report over 30 soldiers perished in Sunday’s attack; however, Malian authorities have yet to confirm this figure.
On Monday, the same group, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), reported targeting military assets in Timbuktu. Residents confirmed hearing gunfire and explosions.
The Malian army issued a statement late Monday, declaring they repelled a “terrorist infiltration attempt” in Timbuktu, neutralizing 14 militants and apprehending 31 suspects.
The statement detailed the seizure of weapons, vehicles, and other materials, but did not identify the attacking group. The army confirmed ongoing search operations in Timbuktu.
An earlier army statement described a “vigorous response” to Sunday’s attack, followed by a tactical withdrawal.
The statement lauded the soldiers’ bravery, stating, “Many men fought, some until their last breath, to defend the Malian nation.”
A local source, speaking anonymously to Reuters, indicated JNIM inflicted significant casualties and “cleared the camp.”
Unverified video footage, according to Reuters, depicts numerous militants storming the base, including one segment showing them stepping over bodies.
In Monday’s Timbuktu attack, JNIM claimed their fighters targeted a military airport and Russian mercenaries.
Military and security sources, speaking to AFP, confirmed ongoing engagement with the militants, describing their presence as pervasive throughout the city.
A local official stated the attackers used a vehicle-borne explosive device detonated near the army camp.
Timbuktu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, was previously occupied by Islamist militants in 2012 before their expulsion, but has faced renewed sieges in recent years.
These attacks, reflecting the deteriorating security situation in Mali and the wider Sahel region, follow a warning from the United States Africa Command regarding increased efforts by various Islamist militant groups to access West Africa’s coastline.
During a Friday press conference, General Michael Langley, commander of United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), expressed deep concern over recent attacks in Nigeria, the Sahel, and the Lake Chad Basin, emphasizing that coastal access would significantly enhance the groups’ smuggling and arms trafficking capabilities.
Reuters reports that over 400 soldiers have been killed by militants in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger since the start of last month.
Additional reporting by Simon Ponsford
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