In Mali, a devastating attack by extremists on a military base has left dozens of soldiers dead, according to information from both civil society and military sources. This recent assault adds to the ongoing violence plaguing the Sahel region of West Africa.
On Sunday, a military base located in Boulkessi, close to the Burkina Faso border, was targeted, resulting in the deaths of at least 60 soldiers and injuries to 40 others, as reported by a civil society activist from the area. The activist, who requested anonymity due to not being authorized to speak to the media, informed about the casualties.
The al-Qaida-affiliated group, known as JNIM, has taken responsibility for the attack. A military insider disclosed that approximately 280 soldiers were stationed at the base, and those not killed were captured by the attackers. This source also requested anonymity for the same reasons.
On the official front, Mali’s army recognized the incident in a statement released Monday, noting that the soldiers fought valiantly. However, the statement did not specify the number of casualties.
The uprising in Mali, along with Burkina Faso and Niger, has been an ongoing battle against insurgent groups, some of which are aligned with al-Qaida and the Islamic State. After recent military coups in these countries, foreign troops from France were expelled, leading to the engagement of Russian mercenary groups for security support.
Another aggressive move by JNIM occurred on Monday with synchronized attacks on a military airstrip, a base, and checkpoints in Timbuktu, north of the country. According to the Mali army, they managed to repel the attack, resulting in the death of 13 extremists, although soldier casualties were not reported.
A local hospital staff member reported the death of a soldier from his injuries, along with ten others who were wounded. They chose to stay anonymous, citing the lack of authorization to release this information.
Residents of Timbuktu recounted the sound of intense gunfire and the presence of armed men entering their town on motorbikes, underscoring the fear that prevails due to possible reprisals, which prompted their anonymity.
According to Rida Lyammouri, a Sahel specialist from the Policy Center for the New South in Morocco, the strategic coordination observed in both incidents suggests long-term planning by JNIM.
Violence attributed to extremist factions has been escalating in Mali and the nearby Burkina Faso region recently, signifying the robust foothold JNIM maintains in both nations.