Deadly attack on malian military base in san leaves 10 soldiers dead

Jihadist assault on San military base leaves ten dead

Sunday’s pre-dawn assault on a Malian army base in the central city of San resulted in the deaths of at least ten soldiers, authorities confirmed. The attack, which unfolded in the early hours, saw militants storm the installation before being repelled by counter-forces.

According to a security source on the ground, the attackers temporarily seized control of the base before Malian troops launched a swift response operation. The assault left ten soldiers dead and prompted an immediate internal assessment to determine further casualties or damage.

A local official, speaking under condition of anonymity, acknowledged that ‘friendly losses’ had occurred but stressed that operations were underway to secure the area. ‘Our forces have regained full control of the base,’ the official stated. ‘Damage assessments and casualty reports are still being finalised.’

JNIM claims responsibility for the brazen strike

The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) has since claimed responsibility for the attack, describing it as a retaliatory strike against government forces. While the exact number of attackers remains unconfirmed, military sources suggest the assault involved a coordinated assault by a small, highly mobile unit.

The assault on the San base marks one of the deadliest strikes against Mali’s armed forces in recent months, underscoring the persistent threat posed by armed factions operating across central and northern regions.

By Élise Ntamag — Regional policy