The Malian Armed Forces known as FAMA, have been increasing their communications to the media to showcase their alleged wins. Ever since the junta of Assimi Goita took over, there has been a greater emphasis on PR. Earlier this week, FAMA said that 153 “terrorists” had been eliminated during various security operations carried out during the month of February. The military says it carried out 84 offensive missions against insurgents and reported being the target of six IED attacks, 16 direct attacks and one “complex” attack.

It also reports that it had destroyed 15 bases or hideouts used by insurgents, seized dozens of weapons, seven vehicles and 46 motorcycles.

On the other hand, FAMA also acknowledged the death of seven soldiers and 24 wounded among them during these operations. “The security situation has been seriously marked by attacks against the FAMa through ambushes and the laying of IEDs (improvised explosive devices) against both the Defense and Security Forces (FDS) and civilian populations.

Acts of robbery and assassination have nevertheless decreased compared to January,” said Colonel Souleymane Dembélé, head of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations of the Armed Forces (DIRPA), during a press briefing given on Monday. Since 2012, Mali has been plagued by separatist insurgencies, jihadist incursions and inter-community violence that have left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced.