Jihadi militants and a separatist group ambushed a Malian army convoy in the northern Gao region on Saturday, killing or capturing scores of soldiers, according to rebel statements. The Malian military confirmed the attack but provided no casualty figures, stating only that a counterattack was underway.
The al-Qaida affiliate JNIM and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) jointly claimed responsibility, citing "great human losses" and "serious material damage" for the Malian side. Both groups said the convoy included Malian troops and Russia’s Africa Corps, which has been supporting Mali’s military.
Joint rebel attack in Mali’s restive north
FLA spokesperson Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane said the ambush resulted in "many soldiers killed, others captured alive," with armored vehicles destroyed or seized. The convoy was traveling from Anefis to Gao city when it was attacked in the Sahara desert. Fuel tankers were visible in the convoy, suggesting it may have been a logistics operation.
Rebel-shared videos allegedly showed soldiers surrendering, some under fire, and being transported in militant vehicles. The Associated Press could not verify the footage independently.
Escalating violence in the Sahel
The attack is the latest in a series targeting Malian forces as armed groups vie for control in the Sahel. Northern Mali has seen years of conflict between Tuareg-led separatists, who formed the FLA in 2024, and jihadist groups like JNIM. The two factions have increasingly coordinated, including in April’s largest attack on Malian forces in over a decade.
