Jihadist militants have ramped up their violent campaign in Mali, executing a series of coordinated assaults on military installations in various towns across the country. This marks the third major offensive on the Malian army in just a month. The Malian army reported that it successfully repelled the attacks on the morning of Tuesday, claiming to have "neutralised" over 80 fighters, though no confirmation of military casualties has been provided.
The group behind the assaults, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) — which is linked to al-Qaeda — asserted control over three army barracks during these attacks. Mali has been grappling with a relentless Islamist insurgency for more than a decade, along with challenges posed by separatist movements.
Military spokesman Colonel Souleymane Dembele stated that the enemy suffered considerable losses at each location where they clashed with Malian security forces. He reported the recovery of weapons, vehicles, and motorcycles from the attackers.
The assaults spanned seven towns and cities, including Binoli, Kayes, and Sandere, adjacent to the Senegalese border, and extended further north towards the Mauritanian frontier. A witness from Kayes recounted the morning chaos, noting gunfire and plumes of smoke rising near the governor's residence.
JNIM described the attacks as "co-ordinated and high quality" in a social media post but refrained from providing details on casualties. This attack follows their recent operations, one of which occurred on June 2 when militants targeted both an army base and an airport in Timbuktu, leading to the death of at least 30 soldiers in a raid just a day prior.
This latest bout of violence signals deepening insecurity in Mali and the broader Sahel region, echoing warnings from the United States Africa Command about rising threats from various Islamist militant factions as they attempt to establish control over the coastline of West Africa, which could enhance their smuggling and arms trafficking capabilities.
