Mali’s army says its soldiers killed dozens of jihadists during a raid on a military base in San on Sunday.
Jama’at Nusrat al‑Islam wal‑Muslimin (JNIM), an al‑Qaeda‑affiliated group, claimed responsibility for the assault, reporting that it had temporarily seized the camp. Army officials denied losing control, instead stating that the garrison “retreated temporarily” before regaining footing.
The clash started at about 05:00 local time and lasted roughly two hours, according to witnesses relayed by French broadcaster RFI. Fighters arrived on motorcycles and on foot, with several wearing army uniforms to infiltrate the base. They entered the camp, held it for a while, and later fled to nearby houses or the surrounding forest.
In the brief occupation, at least ten soldiers were killed and many more wounded. The army confirmed the attackers used drones, heavy machine guns and armoured vehicles to breach the perimeter.
“The enemy was eliminated and the attack was successfully repelled. Around 40 terrorists were eliminated,” Lt. Col. El Oumrani, commander of the 23rd regiment, told a video. He urged civilians to remain vigilant, insisting the base was still under army control.
Mali has struggled for over a decade against escalating jihadist insurgency in the north and east. The April launch of the Azawad Liberation Front, a blend of jihadists and separatist rebels, aimed to topple the regime of Gen. Assimi Goïta, who seized power in a 2020 coup.
The Defence Minister, Sadio Camara, was killed earlier in the month by a suspected suicide truck bombing near Bamako. JNIM’s expansion into central and southern zones demonstrates its ability to penetrate deeply, even as French forces withdraw and Mali leans toward Russian support.
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