Mali says hundreds killed after coordinated attacks
Mali’s military authorities say they killed hundreds of fighters and recovered motorcycles and vehicles after a wave of coordinated attacks across the country on April 25.
Speaking at a press briefing, Major Djibrilla Maiga, Squadron Commander and Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, described the attacks as “cowardly and barbaric.”
“The routed terrorists had no choice but to retreat,” Maiga said.
He said the attacks were part of a “vain and desperate attempt” by armed groups and their sponsors to destabilise the state.
“The scale of the attack and the methods used by the enemy provide sufficient proof that the terrorists received reinforcements from both inside and outside,” he added.
Maiga said troop deployments were being reorganised as part of a wider counter-offensive.
“We are currently restructuring our deployment by repositioning certain units in accordance with the principle of concentration of forces,” he said, describing the move as “strictly a war strategy.”
He added that more than 10,000 combatants had been mobilised by the attackers, forcing the military to adjust its strategy to protect soldiers and prepare to retake territory.
The army also warned of what it called a media disinformation campaign similar to the one seen during Mali’s 2012 crisis. Maiga urged citizens to remain vigilant and avoid ethnic profiling in the capital.
The April 25 attacks were claimed by the al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin and the Azawad Liberation Front. They marked one of Mali’s most serious escalations in years and reportedly included the killing of Defence Minister Sadio Camara.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
