Mali: A look back at a week of fighting in the northern key town of Anefis

Over the course of one week in early July, the small village of Anéfis in northern Mali became the center of intense military activity as jihadist groups and Tuareg separatists launched coordinated attacks on a strategic military base located near the village. The assault marked a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict in the region, which has seen shifting control over key locations between government forces, Russian-backed private military contractors, and armed groups seeking greater autonomy or ideological dominance. The fighting began when militants attacked the military base situated along the outskirts of Anéfis, using both artillery fire and drones to weaken defenses before launching ground assaults. According to video footage shared online on July 4, armed men in pickup trucks advanced into the village’s central square, where they encountered resistance from forces loyal to the Malian army and their Russian allies, including members of the Africa Corps, a successor to the Wagner Group in Mali. The attackers were reportedly supported by armored vehicles captured during previous operations, including Russian-made BTR-82s used by the FLA and Chinese-manufactured VP11s deployed by the JNIM, a jihadist coalition. The assault on Anéfis was part of a broader offensive that also targeted nearby towns such as Gao, Sévaré, and Kenioroba. These simultaneous attacks aimed to disrupt the coordination of Malian and Russian forces, who had been deploying drones to monitor and counter insurgent movements. In response, the Africa Corps released footage showing damaged pickup trucks hit by their FPV drone strikes, highlighting the effectiveness of these unmanned weapons against lightly armored vehicles. During the battle, the FLA released several videos capturing Malian soldiers taken prisoner, some of whom appeared seriously injured. However, independent verification of the number of captives remains difficult due to limited access to the area and conflicting reports from multiple sources. The videos suggest that the FLA is capable of conducting sustained combat operations and maintaining control over certain regions despite ongoing clashes with government forces. Geographically, Anéfis holds strategic significance due to its location at the intersection of two rivers and the convergence of two main roads—RN 18 leading toward Kidal and RN 19 heading toward Aguelhok. This makes it a critical transit point for supplies and movement across the region. While the village itself is sparsely populated and currently uninhabited due to recent violence, controlling the military base there could provide access to vital infrastructure and resources, including deep wells and fuel storage points essential for prolonged military campaigns. According to researcher Charles Grémont from the Institute of African Worlds, the primary objective of the attack was not necessarily to capture Anéfis itself, but rather to gain control of the military base located within the village. He explained that while the village serves as a logistical hub, the real value lies in the base's position, which could allow the FLA and JNIM to advance further south toward Gao or northward toward Aguelhok, a town still under the control of government forces. For Russia and its affiliated groups, maintaining control of Anéfis is crucial to prevent the expansion of rebel influence into more populated areas. The Africa Corps has emphasized the importance of securing this location to block potential advances by the FLA and JNIM toward Gao, a larger city with greater strategic and economic significance. Conversely, the rebels aim to consolidate their gains from earlier victories, particularly the recapture of Kidal in April, and to encircle the remaining government-held positions in the north. As the situation continues to unfold, the outcome of the battles around Anéfis will likely determine the balance of power in northern Mali. With both sides demonstrating strong capabilities and determination, the region remains highly volatile, and further clashes appear increasingly probable.