14 resultsfor “Recent attacks on Malian Armed Forces”
Malians on social media are now questioning the strength of Russian defence support to Sahel countries, including military-led Burkina Faso and Niger, which have seen a surge in armed attacks in recent years
attacks in Mali, an al-Qaeda-linked group has stormed a main prison housing fighters from the armed group and set fire to trucks with food supplies heading to the capital Bamako. Fighters from
recent years has softened its rhetoric around strict religious rules and focused on campaigning against the Malian army’s rights violations. JNIM has also been accused of violations. Its fighters, like those from the Mali
armed fighters [stormed the Kenieroba Central Prison](/news/2026/5/6/al-qaeda-linked-fighters-storm-mali-prison-block-food-supplies-to-bamako), a recently built complex about 60km (37 miles) southwest of Bamako, which houses 2,500 prisoners, including at least 72 inmates considered “high value” by the Malian
armed forces with Russian mercenary support. The United Nations children’s agency UNICEF said civilians, including children, were among the dead and injured. In a [report](https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2026/05/mali-civilians-impacted-amid-clashes) published on Tuesday this week
Malian armed forces were still entrenched. But Mali’s army chief of staff, General Oumar Diarra, told the state broadcaster that the military had tactically repositioned forces in Kidal and that operations were continuing
recent years by JNIM attacking the government,” he said. ## What role did Russian mercenaries play during the attacks? Witnesses told Al Jazeera’s Haque that [Russian mercenaries](/news/2025/6/6/russias-wagner-mercenaries-leaving-mali-africa-corps-to-remain) were involved in fighting in Bamako, around
recent years. The al-Qaida-linked militant group JNIM claimed responsibility for the attacks on Bamako’s international airport and four other cities in central and northern Mali on its website Azallaq. It said
arme groups including Islamist militants have launched one of the largest coordinated attacks seen in recent years, targeting multiple cities across the country. Heavy gunfire and explosions have been reported around government buildings and major
Malian forces had “neutralised” several hundred “terrorists” since the April attacks. In addition to killing Camara by driving a car laden with explosives into his residence, the rebels last month targeted the home of Assimi
recent collaboration was a [major weekend offensive](/news/2026/4/25/mali-army-says-armed-groups-launch-nationwide-attacks-gunfire-near-airport) that saw the capital and several other cities attacked. Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in the assault. All sides are accused of humanitarian violations
armed drones in their assaults on Kati – a junta stronghold just outside the capital, Bamako – as well as the eastern city of Gao and central towns of Mopti and Sévaré. Heavy gunfire and explosions were
forces have strengthened their operational vigilance to ensure that such tragedies never happen again,” the defence minister, Téné Birahima Ouattara, said at a ceremony this March to commemorate the 10th anniversary of what
recent upheaval on April 25, an al-Qaeda-linked [armed group](/news/2026/4/30/mali-crisis-who-are-the-key-leaders-to-know-about) joined forces with Tuareg separatists to [launch simultaneous attacks](/news/2026/4/27/rival-armed-groups-join-forces-against-the-malian-state-what-next) on targets across the country, killing Defence Minister Sadio Camara and prompting armed