BAMAKO, Mali: An ambush by Al-Qaeda-linked jihadists in central Mali has claimed the lives of at least 15 soldiers, according to local officials.
The attack, attributed to the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), occurred near the village of Diallassagou in the Mopti region. The ambush left several soldiers wounded, with others reported missing, and saw military equipment seized by the assailants.
This attack is the latest in a series of violent incidents that have plagued Mali for over a decade. Since 2015, the central region has become a hotspot for jihadist activity and other armed conflicts, exacerbating the country’s ongoing instability.
The Malian military, along with Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group, has faced significant challenges in combating these insurgent groups.
The military source in Mopti suggested that the jihadists also suffered casualties, though the exact number remains unclear. Mali has been embroiled in conflict since 2012, with various factions linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS, as well as separatists and criminal gangs, operating in the region.
The country’s military junta, led by Col. Assimi Goita, has prioritized reclaiming control from these forces. Following coups in 2020 and 2021, the junta severed ties with France, Mali’s former colonial ruler, and aligned more closely with Russia, seeking support in their ongoing struggle to stabilize the nation.
