Malian soldiers - The African Mirror

Sep

2021

French minister in Sahel amid talk of Russian hired guns for Mali

FRANCE’S Armed Forces Minister has arrived in Niger as part of a two-day visit to allies in the Sahel region, where French-led military operations against Islamist militants are under threat from Mali's talks with Russian defence contractors. Diplomatic and security sources have told Reuters that Mali's year-old military junta is close to recruiting the Russian Wagner Group, and France has launched a diplomatic drive to thwart it, saying such an arrangement is "incompatible" with a continued French presence. West Africa's main political bloc, ECOWAS, has also expressed concern. But Mali's junta has dug in, noting that France has begun scaling…

Jul

2021

By The African Mirror

Four soldiers killed in Mali

NEWS

FOUR soldiers were killed when their patrol was ambushed by suspected militants in central Mali yesterday, the army said in a statement The region is where Mali is battling Islamist militants linked to al Qaeda and the Islamic State. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. The army said in a statement that the patrol was ambushed near the town of Lere on Sunday morning. "The provisional toll is at four soldiers killed," it said. The attack comes as France, which has deployed over 5,000 counter-terrorism soldiers in Mali to help combat militants, said on Friday that it has…

Mar

2021

By The African Mirror

We killed 33 Malian soldiers – Islamic State

NEWS

ISLAMIC State's West Africa affiliate claimed responsibility on Sunday for an ambush last week that killed 33 Malian soldiers, according to a statement published by the SITE Intelligence Group. Fourteen soldiers were also injured in Monday's attack near the northern town of Tessit, near the border with Niger, according to Mali's army. Islamic State said in a statement that its fighters captured three vehicles as well as weapons and ammunition, according to SITE. The group has claimed responsibility for previous attacks on either side of the border that have killed dozens of Malian and Nigerien soldiers. It also carried out…

Jan

2021

By The African Mirror

Gunmen kill six Malian soldiers in coordinated attacks

NEWS

GUNMEN in Mali killed at least six soldiers and wounded 18 others in two coordinated attacks in the centre of the African nation yesterday morning, an army spokesman said. The attacks occurred at around 0300 (0300 GMT) in the villages of Boulkessi and Mondoro in the Mopti region, sparking a gunfight between the armed group and the army, said Colonel Souleymane Dembelé. About 30 assailants were killed, he said. It is not yet clear who carried out the attack. Mali's central and northern regions have for years been home to jihadist groups with links to al Qaeda and Islamic State.…

Sep

2020

By The African Mirror

About 10 Malian soldiers killed in militant attack, army says

NEWS

MILITANTS have killed around 10 Malian soldiers near the west-central town of Guire, the army said, the deadliest such attack against the armed forces since an August 18 military coup. International powers fear the ousting of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita could further destabilise the West African nation and undermine the fight against insurgents linked to al Qaeda and Islamic State in the wider Sahel region. The latest attack, which targeted a resupplying mission, took place at 6 p.m. and also caused injuries and material damage, the army said in a statement on Friday. Reinforcements have been dispatched to the area,…