DAKAR: The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility for a recent attack in Mali’s Menaka region, where it claimed to have killed 16 soldiers. The attack, which took place last week, targeted a Malian army convoy en route to Niger. The extremist group reported the incident through its Amaq propaganda platform.
Details of the attack indicate that the assailants affiliated with the Islamic State ambushed the military convoy, resulting in casualties and injuries among the soldiers. The intense firefight lasted approximately one hour.
Mali, since 2012, has been grappling with an ongoing jihadist insurgency that originated in the northern region and gradually extended its reach to the central part of the country, as well as spilling over into Burkina Faso and Niger.
Islamic State’s Activities in Menaka Region
The Menaka region has witnessed heightened activities by the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) over the past several months, as the extremist group seeks to assert its presence and influence in the area.
The Malian ruling junta, which has yet to address the incident since its emergence on August 3, is likely to face increased scrutiny and pressure to address the security situation in the country. The attack highlights the ongoing challenges that Mali and its neighboring nations continue to face in combating the persistent threat posed by extremist groups in the region.
A recent report by Human Rights Watch also implicated the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara in a wave of violence that has led to numerous deaths and the displacement of thousands of people since the beginning of the year.
