Mali’s armed forces say they have repelled an early-morning assault on a military base in San, in the Ségou region, as fighting with armed groups continues to threaten security across the country. The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) said the attack began at about 5:30 a.m. on Sunday, but troops mounted a strong response and retained control of the military installation. Lieutenant Colonel El Oumrani, commander of the 23rd FAMa Regiment, said clearance operations were continuing around the area. Russia’s Africa Corps, which operates alongside Malian forces, attributed the assault to fighters from the JNIM and FLA coalition and claimed that more than 40 attackers were killed. The figure could not be independently verified.
However, the militant group JNIM disputed the army’s account. A media outlet affiliated with the group claimed its fighters had captured the San barracks and released videos it said showed militants near the military compound. Africa Corps rejected the claim, saying the attackers briefly reached areas around the base before withdrawing after government troops repelled the assault. There was no immediate independent verification of either side’s battlefield claims.
The attack comes amid a renewed wave of violence against Malian military positions. Armed groups affiliated with JNIM, an al-Qaeda-linked organization, and other insurgent factions have increased attacks on security forces and strategic locations despite intensified military operations. Mali has relied increasingly on its armed forces and Russian military partners since relations with France and other Western security partners deteriorated following the military takeover in 2020. The fighting in San underscores the continuing security challenge facing Mali as authorities seek to regain control of territory affected by years of jihadist insurgency.
