Mali’s army says it has repelled an attack by jihadist fighters on a military base in the town of San, killing about 40 militants.
The attack was claimed by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked armed group. JNIM said its fighters had taken control of the base, but Mali’s military rejected claims that it had lost the facility.
Heavy Fighting according to the army, the attack began at around 5:00 a.m. on Sunday and lasted roughly two hours. Witnesses quoted by RFI said the attackers arrived on motorcycles and on foot, with some allegedly wearing military uniforms to infiltrate the base. The army said the militants also used drones, heavy machine guns and armoured vehicles to breach the base’s perimeter.
Mali’s military acknowledged that its troops were forced to temporarily retreat, but insisted that the base remained under government control. Army commander Lt Col El Oumrani said approximately 40 militants were killed during the fighting. However, AFP cited security and local sources as saying that at least 10 Malian soldiers were also killed, while the attackers briefly occupied parts of the camp. Mali’s worsening security Situation The battle comes as Mali continues to face a serious jihadist insurgency that began more than a decade ago.
JNIM has expanded beyond northern Mali and increasingly operates in the central and southern parts of the country, demonstrating an ability to carry out attacks deeper into government-held territory. The security crisis intensified following the 2020 military coup led by General Assimi Goïta. Mali subsequently rejected French military assistance and turned toward Russia for security cooperation.
The country has also faced attacks from jihadist groups and separatist forces seeking to challenge the military government. The latest assault highlights the continuing difficulty faced by Mali’s authorities in preventing armed groups from expanding their reach despite repeated military operations.
