Over 20 soldiers killed as al-Qaeda-linked militants attack military base in Northern Mali

No fewer than 20 Malian soldiers, including a base commander and his deputy, were killed on Friday when suspected members of the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) launched a deadly assault on a military base in Soumpi, Tombouctou region of northern Mali.

Counter-insurgency expert Zagozola Makama, citing security sources, confirmed that several soldiers were also wounded or declared missing following the fierce gun battle.

Witnesses said the heavily armed militants stormed the base in large numbers, riding motorcycles and pickup trucks. They engaged Malian troops in prolonged combat before eventually overpowering them.

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The attackers reportedly looted the facility, carting away military vehicles, weapons, and ammunition before retreating into the desert.

Military reinforcements were later deployed to the scene to secure the base and evacuate casualties.

Although the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) had yet to release an official statement as of press time, local sources described the incident as one of the most devastating assaults on government troops in recent months.

JNIM, an al-Qaeda affiliate, has intensified attacks across northern and central Mali in recent weeks, targeting both military installations and civilian communities in its campaign against the Malian state and its security allies.

Over 20 soldiers killed as al-Qaeda-linked militants attack military base in Northern Mali

Sudan seeks Nigeria’s help to end three-year war

Sudanese authorities have appealed to Nigeria to help bring an end to the nearly three-year conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), insisting that designating the RSF as a terrorist organisation is key to stopping the war.

Sudan’s Charge d’Affaires in Nigeria, Ambassador Ahmed Omer Taboul, made the appeal during a briefing in Abuja, urging Nigeria and the wider international community to take decisive action against the RSF, which he accused of widespread atrocities.

According to Taboul, Sudan believes Nigeria — given its history of mediating in regional crises — can again play a “big brother role” in restoring peace.

“If the RSF is designated as a terrorist group, this war would, by now, have come to an end,” he said, noting that documented evidence of the militia’s crimes had been widely reported by international media and rights monitors.

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Taboul disclosed that Sudan’s diplomatic pressure was beginning to gain traction, pointing to a recent move by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which signalled support for classifying the RSF as a terrorist organisation.

“Our efforts are now having an effect on policymakers across the globe. We are pushing until the RSF is officially designated as a terrorist group,” he stated.

The envoy stressed that Sudan needs “real support” from Nigeria and the world, insisting that the conflict has been widely mischaracterised.

“This is not a war between two generals. It is not a struggle between the margins and the centre. It is an armed rebellion against the state and the people of Sudan,” he said.

The war, which began in April 2023, has led to one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, displacing millions and pushing large parts of the country to the brink of famine.

Sudan seeks Nigeria’s help to end three-year war

Ugandan security forces kill militia leader behind weekend attacks on police, army posts