Malian army repels jihadist attack in Timbuktu after deadly assault in Boulkessi

The Malian army successfully repelled a jihadist assault on its military camp in Timbuktu on Monday (2 June),just one day after a deadly attack in Boulkessi left at least 30 soldiers dead.

According to the Malian Armed Forces,13 attackers were “neutralized” during the attempted infiltration of the Timbuktu camp. Witnesses reported a car bomb explosion in the city center,followed by intense gunfire. Shells were also fired toward the nearby airport,prompting UN personnel to seek shelter. Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM),an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group,claimed responsibility for the coordinated assaults. The Timbuktu attack was the group’s second in 48 hours,following Sunday’s (1 June) devastating raid on Boulkessi,near the Burkinabe border.

Local officials estimate the death toll there could exceed 60,including soldiers killed,missing,or taken hostage. “Many men fought,some until their last breath,” a security source in Bamako stated,citing the lack of timely reinforcements during the Boulkessi battle. These attacks highlight the mounting challenges facing Mali’s military junta,which seized power pledging to end jihadist violence. Since May,over 400 soldiers across Mali,Niger,and Burkina Faso have reportedly been killed by insurgents. Despite ongoing counteroffensives,the situation remains volatile as jihadist forces exploit Mali’s political instability and strained military resources.