Al-Qaida’s affiliated group launched a coordinated attack on Mali’s military airport in the northern city of Timbuktu on Monday, a day after striking an army base.
According to officials, terrorists belonging to Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin arrived in a vehicle loaded with explosives which blasted in close proximity to the camp. Residents also reported sounds of gunfire and widespread panic as explosions echoed through the city.
The attack came a day after the group claimed responsibility for an attack on army base in Boulkessi, near the Burkina Faso border. The Sunday attack reportedly left more than 30 Malian soldiers, but the army has not provided official casualty figures.
The Malian army later issued a statement on X suggesting that the situation in Timbuktu was under control and that 13 jihadists had been killed.
These attacks are an addition to the persistent threat posed by jihadist groups in the Sahel region, despite efforts by Mali's military junta to stabilise the country since seizing power in 2020.
The junta had promised to restore security but has struggled to contain the insurgency with more than 400 soldiers killed since the beginning of May alone.
The involvement of foreign mercenaries, including Russian operatives, has further complicated the security landscape, and civil society figures suggest little to no improvement in the situation.
The Liptako-Gourma region where Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali converge has been marred by a series of violent attacks at the hands of armed groups.
In response to the escalating violence, these three nations have exited the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) to enhance military cooperation.
All three countries remain under the rule of military Juntas, who now rely on Russia for military support as they claim to seek the elimination of Jihadist groups and activity from the region.
