Al-Qaeda-Linked Fighters Seize Malian Army Base as Security Crisis Deepens

Al-Qaeda-Linked Fighters Seize Malian Army Base as Security Crisis Deepens
……………

Armed militants from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate, stormed a Malian army barracks on Sunday, seizing weapons and ammunition before withdrawing with little resistance, according to videos circulating on social media. Footage showed fighters leaving in a Mercedes 190 as residents looked on.

The incident comes amid growing insecurity in Mali, where fuel shortages and rising prices have become widespread in major cities. Local sources also reported a prisoner exchange between the army and JNIM in Gao, with detainees from both sides flown to Bamako by Sky Mali.

Attacks on supply routes have compounded the crisis. On September 27, a fuel convoy escorted by Malian troops was ambushed on the highway between Kourémalé and Bamako, highlighting persistent threats even on key transport corridors.

Despite setbacks, Malian forces continue counter-operations. The army reported large-scale offensives in Faya and Sossan last weekend, destroying more than a dozen militant hideouts and inflicting heavy losses.

Earlier in September, airstrikes near Kondeouli Maoudi in Mopti killed ten fighters and destroyed a training camp, while subsequent strikes in Nara targeted weapons depots and bomb-making facilities. Authorities reaffirmed their commitment to combating insurgent groups and securing vital areas across Mali.