Al-Qaeda-Linked Militants Overrun Military Base in Mali

An Al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group has claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a military base in central Mali on Sunday. 

The group, Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), said in a statement that its fighters had captured the Boulkessi base, located near Mali’s border with Burkina Faso. Two regional security sources told reporters that more than 30 Malian soldiers were killed in the assault.

Videos widely circulated on social media appear to show militants stepping over the bodies of uniformed soldiers who appeared to have been killed between defensive sandbags.

The Malian army confirmed the loss of the Boulkessi base, saying troops had a dogged defense but were ultimately forced to pull back. No official death toll was provided.

A municipal official in nearby Mondoro, said the number of dead was significant.

In a separate incident on Monday, JNIM also claimed responsibility for an attack on a military airport in Timbuktu. The militant group said its fighters had targeted both the airport and Russian mercenaries reportedly operating in the region.

The latest violence comes amid a sharp uptick in jihadist activity across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Since early May, more than 400 soldiers have reportedly been killed in a string of coordinated attacks on military bases and towns.

The region remains in turmoil following a wave of coups in recent years that have seen military juntas seize power, upending Western partnerships and fueling reliance on Russian mercenaries.