Islamists and separatists kill at least 50 soldiers in Mali

In northern Mali, at least 50 soldiers were killed during an attack attributed to Islamist groups and separatists, according to reports from local military circles and a municipal politician close to the military junta. The assault occurred on Saturday as a convoy departed the strategically important town of Anefis, heading toward the larger city of Gao. Both the al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) claimed responsibility for the ambush. The attack marked one of the deadliest strikes against the Malian army in recent years. At least 24 soldiers were captured, according to military officials. The convoy had been en route to Gao, a key regional hub, when it fell victim to the coordinated strike. The incident followed weeks of intense fighting around Anefis, which had been temporarily seized by JNIM and FLA in a large-scale offensive earlier this month. During that operation, the militants surrounded a military base defended by both Malian forces and Russian paramilitary units from the so-called African Corps. A source within the Malian military described the attack as a calculated execution, with some soldiers reportedly “regardless of their lives.” The military is currently investigating tactical errors that may have contributed to the heavy losses. “We are trying to determine exactly what made our men so vulnerable,” the source added. Coordination issues between the Russian paramilitary forces and the Malian army were highlighted by a regional politician. According to multiple sources, the Russian troops had already reached Gao by early July and suffered no casualties during the attack. However, there were apparent communication gaps between the two sides, raising questions about how effectively the joint operations were being managed. The Malian army initially did not disclose casualty figures before officially acknowledging the attack. It stated that its convoy had fallen into a trap laid by armed terrorist groups. This follows a May announcement by Tuareg separatists and jihadists forming an alliance against the military junta. Since 2012, Mali has been embroiled in a violent conflict involving jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, along with Tuareg separatists and other armed criminal networks. Since the 2020 and 2021 coups, Mali has been under the rule of a military junta that severed ties with France and other Western partners. In response to the security crisis, the government has increasingly relied on Russian military support. The current situation reflects broader tensions in the Sahel region, where instability continues to challenge governance and international cooperation.