More Than 100 Malian Soldiers Reportedly Killed in JNIM Attack
More than 100 Malian soldiers were reportedly killed in a major attack by the al-Qaeda-linked militant group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) on a military base in central Mali earlier this month, according to security and military sources.
The attack took place on September 10 at the Dioura military camp, in the Mopti region. Sources told Reuters and AFP that the military suffered more than 100 fatalities, while dozens of soldiers were wounded or captured.
The Malian army has not released an official death toll. It confirmed that soldiers were killed during operations in the area and said it had launched a major air-and-ground operation to evacuate troops from the besieged garrison.
JNIM has claimed a significantly higher toll, saying its fighters killed 150 soldiers and captured 93 others. The militant group’s figures could not be independently verified.
An officer from Mali’s military general staff told AFP that a military police report listed approximately 100 personnel lost, around 30 wounded and a similar number captured. Another local official said more than 80 soldiers had been taken prisoner and that the camp had subsequently been abandoned.
The assault is among the deadliest reported attacks on Mali’s military in the country’s long-running jihadist conflict.
JNIM, one of the most powerful al-Qaeda affiliates operating in the Sahel, has intensified attacks across Mali in recent months. The group and allied Tuareg separatists have carried out coordinated assaults against military positions and other strategic targets.
The latest attack also comes as Mali’s military government faces growing pressure over its ability to contain the insurgency. The junta, which took power through coups in 2020 and 2021, has moved away from Western military partnerships and strengthened cooperation with Russia.
The reported losses at Dioura have raised fresh questions about the military’s ability to defend isolated bases and maintain control over parts of the country where jihadist groups remain active.
The Malian government has not confirmed the reported toll, leaving the exact number of casualties uncertain.
