An al-Qaeda-affiliated group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for a coordinated attack on multiple Malian army positions, including one in Diboli near the Senegal border. The incident marks a significant escalation of extremist violence into western Mali, a region that has largely remained unaffected until now.
According to a statement by the Malian military, the attack occurred near the border town of Diboli, which serves as a crucial trade and import gateway from Dakar, Senegal. The assault is seen as particularly alarming given the area’s historical stability and its economic importance.
Colonel Majo Souleymane Dembélé, spokesperson for the Malian army, stated on national television that security forces “neutralized” 80 attackers during the confrontation. However, no information was provided on casualties among the soldiers.
Experts are expressing concern over the expansion of violence. “The border region to Senegal is a major gateway for trade and imports from Dakar ports to Mali that had been relatively stable for years,” said Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. “This will also worry border communities in Senegal.”
Mali has been battling extremist insurgencies for over a decade, involving groups linked to both al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. The security crisis has deepened since a series of military coups that led to the expulsion of French forces and the arrival of Russian mercenaries. Despite these shifts, attacks have intensified across Mali and neighboring Burkina Faso, with JNIM strengthening its foothold in both countries.
