DAKAR: At least six Malian soldiers were killed in an attack by “armed terrorist groups” in the northern region of the country, according to an official report from the Malian army. An earlier statement had initially reported one soldier killed and four wounded during the assault in Ber on Friday.
The death toll was subsequently revised to six on Saturday, with the army revealing that the attackers left behind a grim scene – abandoning 24 bodies – as they fled from the clash. Along with the bodies, the assailants also abandoned AK-47 assault rifles and motorbikes at the site, underscoring the intensity of the confrontation.
The confrontation erupted in the Timbuktu region following an “attempted incursion and harassing fire by terrorist groups against FAMa (Malian Armed Forces) units,” stated the army. The troops were stationed in Ber as part of a transitional arrangement while the United Nations mission in Mali (MINUSMA) prepares to exit the country, in accordance with Mali’s junta’s call for the withdrawal of MINUSMA by year-end.
Malian Armed Forces Accused of Attacks
Adding a layer of complexity to the situation, former Tuareg rebels reported that their forces were also targeted in Ber. The Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), which represents Tuareg-dominated groups seeking autonomy or independence, alleged that the Malian armed forces, in conjunction with the Russian mercenary group Wagner, carried out attacks against their positions.
Expressing concern over these actions, the CMA asserted that the Malian military was intent on occupying MINUSMA’s holdings, even in areas under CMA control, a violation of security arrangements outlined in a 2015 peace agreement. The CMA has previously criticized Mali’s military government for endorsing a new constitution in June, viewing it as a threat to the established peace agreement.
Tensions between the Malian military government and the former colonial power, France, have escalated in recent times, prompting Mali to seek political and military support from Russia. The incident reflects the persistent security crisis that has gripped Mali since 2012, stemming from an Islamist insurgency in the north that has subsequently spread to central areas of the country, as well as neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.
