BAMAKO: In a brazen attack on two military camps in northern Mali, armed rebel groups have killed five soldiers and left another 11 missing, the Malian army said. This latest assault underscores the volatile security situation in northern Mali, which not only faces a persistent threat from militants but also witnesses a resurgence in activity by separatist armed factions.
The attack, which took place in the town of Lere within the Timbuktu Region, resulted in the loss of a military aircraft during the ensuing fighting, as confirmed by the army via social media. Approximately 30 assailants were reported to have been “neutralized” in the operation, which the army attributed to “terrorists.”
The Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), an alliance primarily composed of Tuareg-dominated armed groups that first took up arms in 2012 seeking autonomy or independence, has claimed responsibility for the attack. The CMA also asserted that it had successfully taken control of two military camps in Lere and downed an army plane.
Conflicting reports have emerged regarding the aftermath of the attack, with both sides providing differing accounts. While the attackers either withdrew or were expelled by the army with air support, the remote nature of the area has made it challenging to verify the information.
Militant Insurgency in Mali
The CMA resumed its military operations against the Malian army earlier this month, following months of strained relations with the government. The group had previously signed a peace agreement with the central state in 2015, aimed at ending hostilities stemming from demands for independence and insurgencies that began in 2012.
The 2012 insurgent uprising in Mali paved the way for armed groups to seize control of much of the north, prompting a French military intervention and plunging the Sahel region into a prolonged conflict that has claimed thousands of lives. Militant groups have continued to resist the Malian state.
