Sahel Edition

Sahel: Several killed in army-Jihadists confrontation in central Mali

Posted On 11 January 2023

Number of times this article was read : 322
The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group

The North Africa Journal’s WhatsApp Group

At least 12 soldiers died in clashes with jihadists in central Mali, army and police officers said on Wednesday. The fighting on Tuesday between the towns of Mopti and Segou also left seven jihadists dead, the army said overnight, giving an earlier toll of three killed and five wounded. The clashes occurred after the security forces came under attack from several improvised explosive devices (IEDs), the army said in its statement, published on social media.

An army officer in Segou, speaking on condition of anonymity, told an AFP reporter, “the toll from the ambush yesterday (was) 13 dead. “This morning, a seriously wounded (soldier) died from his injuries, which makes 14 dead, including a captain who was commanding the escort,” the officer said.

A local gendarmerie officer, also asking not to be identified, said the unit’s commander “and all his team died in the ambush. We have lost more than 12 men.” He also said 30 soldiers were wounded and others were listed missing, while more than 30 jihadists had been killed.

Mali is in the throes of a nearly 11-year-old security crisis triggered by a regional revolt in the north that developed into a full-blown jihadist insurgency. Thousands have died, hundreds of thousands have fled their homes and devastating economic damage has been inflicted to one of the world’s poorest countries.

Central Mali, an ethnic mosaic, is one of the most troubled regions, and in 2015 became the springboard for an extension of the insurgency into neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso. Since August 2020, Mali has been ruled by the military, leading to a bustup with France, the country’s traditional ally, and close ties with Russia.

A UN report presented to the Security Council on Tuesday said the security situation has “continued to deteriorate in (the) central Sahel, notably in Burkina Faso and Mali.” “In Mali, following the departure of international forces, armed groups have advanced in the east, gaining control of large areas bordering the Niger,” the report said.

AFP
Other Articles in this Week's Issue<< Egypt faces major risks this year as economy continues to fall apartInsurgencies: Three alleged members of Islamic State group arrested in Morocco and Spain >>

More on the Sahel

Sahel: Russia Replaces Wagner in Mali Under Pressure from Algeria, Touaregs Brace

Sahel: Russia Replaces Wagner in Mali Under Pressure from Algeria, Touaregs Brace

With Wagner stepping aside, the Africa Corps is moving in, bringing structure and legitimacy to Moscow’s support for Bamako. Touareg leaders, fearing a more efficient and state-backed force, have begun testing quiet understandings with jihadist factions like GSIM. It’s not a formal alliance, but a sign of growing desperation in a region where alliances shift quickly and survival often overrides ideology.

The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.
Shield and Alert Sahel

Pin It on Pinterest

The Sahel Channel
The Maghreb Channel
The Egypt Channel
The North Africa Journal
The Sahel Channel
The Maghreb Channel
The Egypt Channel
The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
Sahel: Russia Replaces Wagner in Mali Under Pressure from Algeria, Touaregs Brace
Ethnic Targeting in West Africa and Sahel: The Forgotten Plight of the Fulani
Mauritania: Ex-President Verdict Puts Mauritania’s Legal System Under Spotlight
Ethnic Targeting in West Africa and Sahel: The Forgotten Plight of the Fulani
The North Africa Journal's WhatsApp Group
.
Shield and Alert Sahel
Share This