Mali’s military authorities have confirmed the killing of at least 80 Islamist militants in a sweeping counteroffensive following a wave of simultaneous and coordinated attacks by jihadist insurgents in multiple regions of the country. The large-scale assault targeted army positions in both central and western Mali, marking one of the most significant escalations in the country’s ongoing fight against extremism.
The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) announced the development in a televised bulletin aired Tuesday evening, revealing that military installations in seven towns and cities came under siege in a series of planned attacks by suspected fighters affiliated with al-Qaeda’s regional branch, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).
According to military officials, the militants struck army posts near the borders with Senegal and Mauritania, regions previously considered relatively stable. “In response, the Malian army engaged rapidly and forcefully,” the official statement said, noting that 80 enemy combatants had been neutralized during the engagements.
The army did not release casualty figures on its own side, but emphasized that operations to reclaim control of strategic military posts had been “largely successful.”
The militant group JNIM, an al-Qaeda-affiliated coalition of jihadist factions active across the Sahel, claimed responsibility for the raids. In a statement posted on encrypted channels often used by jihadist groups, JNIM described the operation as a series of “coordinated and high-quality attacks” and claimed that it had temporarily seized control of three army barracks during the operation.
Security analysts say the simultaneous nature of the assaults suggests a high level of coordination, consistent with JNIM’s expanding military capabilities and intelligence operations. The group’s influence has been growing steadily across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in recent years—especially in areas where state presence is weak or contested.
In response to the renewed threat, regional authorities in Kayes and Dioïla announced a 30-day overnight curfew effective immediately. The directive, aimed at limiting militant movement and securing public areas, was issued following attacks on positions in the Kayes region, near the border with Senegal.
Residents in towns such as Diéma, Kéniéba, and Yélimané reported hearing intense gunfire and seeing military helicopters overhead during the clashes. Many locals fled their homes as fighting erupted, fearing a drawn-out battle between state forces and insurgents.
One resident in western Kayes, who asked to remain anonymous for security reasons, told Africa Live News: “We were woken by loud explosions before dawn. The army told everyone to stay inside. It was terrifying. We haven’t seen this kind of violence in this area before.”
The latest wave of violence carries the familiar pattern seen in other militant operations across the Sahel, where coordinated assaults are aimed at stretching the resources of national armed forces and destabilizing broader regions through fear and chaos.
Mali’s military government, which took power in a coup in 2020, has struggled to contain the spiraling security situation. Despite increasing investment in counterinsurgency efforts, much of the country’s central and northern regions remain volatile and vulnerable to jihadist activities.
In the aftermath of the attacks, Mali’s transitional authorities pledged to bolster military patrols, improve early warning systems, and work with local communities to identify suspicious activities. However, critics argue that decades of weak governance and fragile state institutions have made sustained security nearly impossible without broader structural reforms.
The threat is not isolated to Mali alone. In May, the commander of the United States Africa Command (AFRICOM), General Michael Langley, warned that the Sahel region—which includes Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso—has now become “the epicenter of terrorism on the globe.”
Speaking at a security forum in Washington, Langley expressed concern that jihadist networks are planning to expand toward West Africa’s coastal countries, such as Ghana, Togo, Benin, and Ivory Coast, with the aim of gaining access to ports and boosting funding through illicit economies, including human trafficking, arms smuggling, and drug trading.
“The threat is morphing,” Langley said. “These groups are adapting their tactics, deepening local alliances, and expanding their ambitions. If left unchecked, the fallout could affect the entire West African sub-region.”
Mali’s response, while firm, remains limited by both resource constraints and diplomatic isolation. The country’s decision to expel French troops and rely more on Russian military contractors has drawn criticism from international partners and raised questions about the long-term viability of its counterterrorism strategy.
Still, the government maintains that it is committed to restoring control over its territory and driving out armed groups. “Our sovereignty and our people will not be surrendered,” a government spokesperson said during a national address. “The terrorists will not win.”
In rural communities caught between jihadist pressure and military crackdowns, civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence. Displacement, disrupted livelihoods, and fear of retaliation by all sides have become part of daily life for millions across Mali’s conflict zones.
As operations continue in the aftermath of the latest attacks, the government is urging citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious movements to local security forces. Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations are appealing for increased access to assist affected communities and provide relief to those displaced by the violence.
With jihadist groups emboldened and the country’s security forces stretched thin, Mali remains on the front line of one of the world’s most complex and protracted security crises—one that has no clear end in sight.
