Mali Army Kills 80 Militants After Coordinated Al-Qaeda Attacks

On July 1, 2025, coordinated attacks by the al-Qaeda-affiliated group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) targeted military posts in seven towns across central and western Mali, including Kayes, Nioro du Sahel, Diboli, Sandere, Gogui, Molodo, and Niono. The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) responded with counteroffensive operations, killing over 80 militants and recovering significant weapons, vehicles, and motorcycles. JNIM claimed to have seized control of three army barracks and described the assaults as "coordinated and high-quality," marking their third major attack in a month. The attacks caused widespread alarm among residents, particularly in Kayes, where heavy gunfire and smoke were reported near the governor’s residence, and regional authorities imposed a 30-day overnight curfew. Mali has been battling Islamist insurgencies linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL for over a decade amid ongoing military rule since the 2020 coup, complicating international cooperation. The situation has raised regional security concerns, especially near Mali's borders with Mauritania and Senegal, with US Africa Command warning of escalating militant threats across the Sahel region.