Mali’s military says it has repelled an attack by Islamist militants on a military base in the central town of San, claiming about 40 attackers were killed during the fighting.
The assault began early on Sunday and lasted for about two hours, according to local reports.
Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked militant group, claimed responsibility for the attack and said its fighters had taken control of the military facility.
Mali’s army rejected claims that the base had been captured, although it acknowledged that troops had temporarily withdrawn from parts of the position during the fighting.
Lieutenant-Colonel El Oumrani, commander of the 23rd Regiment based in San, said in a video released by the military that the attack had been repelled and that the army remained in control of the base.
He said around 40 militants had been killed and urged residents to remain alert.
Local witnesses said the attackers arrived on motorcycles and on foot, with some allegedly wearing military uniforms to gain access to the base.
The witnesses also reported intense fighting around the facility, with some militants fleeing into nearby residential areas and surrounding woodland after the assault.
Security and local sources cited in reports said at least 10 soldiers were killed during the fighting, although the military has not publicly confirmed that figure.
The army said the attackers used drones, heavy machine guns and armoured vehicles during the assault.
The attack highlights the continuing security challenges facing Mali, where Islamist armed groups have expanded their operations beyond the country’s traditional conflict zones in the north.
JNIM has increasingly carried out attacks in central and southern Mali, putting pressure on military positions and transport routes as the group seeks to expand its influence.
Mali has struggled with jihadist violence since an insurgency took hold in the north in 2012. The security crisis later spread to central and southern parts of the country.
The country’s military government, led by General Assimi Goïta, has sought to take greater control of security operations after relations with France deteriorated following the 2020 coup. Mali subsequently ended its defence cooperation with France and strengthened military ties with Russia.
The latest attack comes as the authorities continue efforts to contain militant groups operating across the country.
