Battle for Mali base has killed dozens of militants, army says

What the report says

Malian authorities said soldiers killed dozens of Islamist militants during a fierce attack on a military base in the central town of San on Sunday, while the army denied claims that the garrison had fallen. The assault was claimed by Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked group, which said its fighters had seized the site. The army acknowledged heavy fighting and casualties, but said its troops only withdrew briefly before holding the base again.

Lt Col El Oumrani, commander of the 23rd regiment in San, said in a video that about 40 militants were killed and that the attack had been repelled. BBC reporting cited witnesses and security sources saying the fighting began around 05:00 local time and lasted about two hours. Those accounts said the attackers arrived on motorcycles and on foot, and some wore army uniforms. Another source cited by AFP said at least 10 soldiers were killed, though the military also reported casualties without giving a figure.

The episode adds to concerns about Mali’s worsening security situation. Since 2012, the country has faced an Islamist insurgency, and large parts of the north and east remain outside government control. The BBC noted that JNIM has expanded attacks beyond the north into central and southern Mali, despite repeated military operations. The conflict is also tied to the country’s political instability, including the 2020 coup that brought Gen Assimi Goïta to power.