Deadly jihadist attack leaves 10 soldiers dead in central Mali
At least ten Malian soldiers were killed early Sunday in an attack on an army base in San, a central Mali town, according to local and security sources. The assault, which left the base briefly under jihadist control, was later claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaïda-linked coalition operating in the region.
Local witnesses described intense fighting that began around 5:00 AM, with sustained gunfire and explosions rocking the town. «This was a terrorist attack,» said one resident. «The clashes started at dawn, and we heard constant gunfire and blasts. The situation has since calmed down.»
The Malian army acknowledged the incident but downplayed its severity, stating in an official statement that it was merely a «failed attempt» to breach the San military outpost at 5:30 AM. Military officials claimed their forces «responded decisively,» repelling the attackers and regaining full control of the base. «Evaluations are ongoing, but our men have retaken the position,» a military source confirmed.
Jihadist coalition claims responsibility for the assault
The JNIM, which operates under the Al-Qaïda banner in the Sahel, asserted in a statement that its fighters had «fully seized» the San military barracks in the Ségou region. The group’s claim contradicts the army’s account, which insists the attack was thwarted before any significant damage could occur.
This is not the first major assault on Malian forces in recent months. On July 18, at least 50 soldiers were killed in a coordinated attack on a military convoy in northern Mali, carried out jointly by the JNIM and the Tuareg separatist Front de Libération de l’Azawad (FLA). That incident remains one of the deadliest strikes against the army since the conflict escalated in 2012.
The Sahel’s enduring security crisis
Mali has faced a worsening security crisis since 2012, driven by insurgencies from Islamist militant groups, including branches of Al-Qaïda and the so-called Islamic State, as well as clashes involving criminal gangs and Tuareg separatist factions. The turmoil has deepened an already severe economic crisis, further straining the country’s stability.
Since seizing power in two successive coups in 2020 and 2021, the military leadership has vowed to restore security and preserve Mali’s territorial integrity. However, attacks like the one in San continue to challenge these efforts, underscoring the persistent threat posed by armed groups across the region.
