Over 20 soldiers killed as JNIM terrorists overrun army base

Suspected members of the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) carried out a deadly raid on a Malian military base in Soumpi, within the Tombouctou region of northern Mali, on Friday.

According to counter-insurgency expert Zagozola Makama, citing security sources, the assault claimed the lives of more than 20 soldiers, including the base commander and his deputy. Several troops were also reported wounded or missing after the intense clashes.

Witnesses said the attackers, who arrived in large numbers aboard motorcycles and pickup trucks, engaged the troops in hours of fierce combat before overpowering them. The militants reportedly made away with military vehicles, weapons, and ammunition before retreating from the area.

Military reinforcements were later sent in to secure the base and evacuate the dead and wounded.

While the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) have not yet issued an official statement, local accounts described the incident as one of the most devastating attacks on government forces in recent months.

JNIM, which is aligned with al-Qaeda, has stepped up its activities across northern and central Mali, frequently targeting army installations and civilian areas as part of its ongoing insurgency against the Malian state and its partners.