Deadly jihadist assault leaves Malian troops dead in San
At least ten soldiers lost their lives in San, central Mali, on Sunday following a dawn attack on a military base. The assault was claimed by jihadist forces affiliated with the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM). Local security sources confirmed casualties among army personnel while emphasizing ongoing assessments. “Friendly losses were sustained, but our evaluations are underway. Our forces have regained control of the situation,” a defense official stated.
- Terrorism
Residents recounted violent clashes that unfolded before sunrise. “This was undoubtedly a terrorist attack. It began at 5:00 AM with continuous explosions and gunfire,” shared a San local, noting that “calm has since returned.” Meanwhile, the Malian military released a statement describing the incident as an “attempted assault on the San military camp at 5:30 AM,” claiming their forces responded decisively, “repelling the attackers” and confirming “full control has been restored.”
Jihadist group claims responsibility
The JNIM, an Al-Qaeda affiliate, publicly claimed responsibility for the operation. Their statement alleged they had “fully seized a Malian army barracks in San, Segou region, early Sunday morning.” This attack follows a July 18 incident where at least 50 soldiers died in northern Mali after a military convoy was ambushed by JNIM forces alongside Tuareg separatists from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). That ambush remains one of the deadliest strikes against Malian troops since the conflict escalated.
Mali has faced an entrenched security crisis since 2012, driven by violence from Al-Qaeda and ISIS-affiliated groups, alongside criminal factions and Tuareg separatist movements. The turmoil has deepened economic hardships, compounded by two military coups in 2020 and 2021. The current transitional government, led by the military, vowed to restore security and preserve national unity.
