Mali's military claims to have repelled attacks by jihadist fighters, but reports suggest the insurgents continue to pose a significant threat to security in the region.
**Mali Faces Renewed Violence Amid Series of Military Attacks**
**Mali Faces Renewed Violence Amid Series of Military Attacks**
The ongoing Islamist insurgency in Mali has escalated with new military assaults in multiple towns.
Malian military forces encountered a wave of coordinated assaults from jihadist militants, marking the third significant attack on the army in just a month. The attacks occurred Tuesday morning across several towns, leading to reports of over 80 militants being "neutralised," as stated by Mali's army, though they did not confirm any military casualties.
The group responsible, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), which has ties to al-Qaeda, claims to have seized control of multiple army barracks during these strikes. For over ten years, Mali has struggled with a persistent Islamist insurgency alongside various separatist movements that have contributed to the country's instability.
Army spokesperson Col. Souleymane Dembele described the engagement in a televised statement, asserting that the enemy incurred substantial losses wherever they confronted Malian forces. The military claims to have confiscated a range of weapons and vehicles from the assailants. Reports confirmed that attacks unfolded across seven locations, including Binoli, Kayes, and Sandere, close to Mali's border with Senegal, as well as further north towards Mauritania.
Witnesses recounted moments of panic as gunfire erupted, with one resident in Kayes remarking on the disturbing sights of smoke rising towards local government buildings. The JNIM characterized their offensive as a "coordinated and high-quality" operation, but did not provide specifics on casualty figures.
This surge in violence adds to the worrying trend of insecurity affecting Mali and the broader Sahel region. Just months prior, the United States Africa Command cautioned about the intensifying operations of various Islamist groups, warning that their increasing access to coastal regions would enhance their capacities for smuggling and arms trafficking. The commander of Africom, Gen Michael Langley, emphasized that the situation calls for urgent attention, noting the troubling rise in attacks spanning Nigeria, the Sahel, and the Lake Chad Basin.
