Al Qaeda-aligned Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) said it killed 21 Malian soldiers in coordinated assaults on Tuesday, captured two more, and seized 15 vehicles and over 50 weapons, according to SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks jihadist communications.
Mali’s army confirmed its outposts in Farabougou and Biriki-Wèrè came under simultaneous attack early Tuesday but did not release a casualty toll. JNIM said it overran a barracks and militia positions in Farabougou and detonated an improvised explosive device against an army vehicle in the south-central Ségou region. The military did not comment on those specific claims.
Ségou, a strategic hub in south-central Mali, has repeatedly seen clashes among jihadist groups, government forces and allied militias during an insurgency that has spread across the Sahel. Analysts say JNIM is shifting from rural guerrilla raids toward efforts to control territory near urban centers.
Mali’s junta, in power since coups in 2020 and 2021, has pledged to restore security as terrorists continue frequent attacks on troops and civilians.
