Mali’s military announced on Friday that it successfully broke a rebel blockade surrounding a strategic army base in the country’s north. The operation comes as the West African nation’s military junta contends with a renewed offensive from separatist groups and militants linked to al-Qaida.
The strategic base, Anéfis, is situated between the military-controlled town of Gao and the separatist-held town of Kidal. Late Thursday, separatists from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) claimed they had successfully cut off the base by attacking a large convoy of reinforcements, which reportedly included Malian army troops, their Russian Africa Corps allies, and local militias. However, by Friday, the rebels acknowledged withdrawing from the area following intense combat.
In a statement released on social media, the Malian army confirmed that a large logistics convoy reached Anéfis from Gao on Thursday night. The military stated that ground and air operations allowed them to regain control of the area despite multiple ambushes launched by terrorist groups, including the JNIM, the FLA, and their affiliates.
FLA spokesperson Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane claimed that the decision to withdraw was made to better organize their forces. He further alleged that the militaries of Niger and Burkina Faso provided support to the Malian army during the engagement. Ramadane reported that the separatists suffered five deaths and approximately ten injuries, while asserting that the Malian army and their Russian allies sustained many casualties. These claims from both the military and the rebels could not be independently verified.
Tensions in the region have escalated significantly over the past week, with FLA separatists targeting various northern towns and placing the Anéfis camp under blockade. The rebels claimed to have ambushed an initial military convoy last Sunday, circulating images on social media that reportedly depicted a downed helicopter and destroyed military trucks.
Mali has faced long-standing security challenges from al-Qaida and Islamic State-affiliated militants, alongside the northern separatist rebellion seeking an independent state. The conflict intensified in April when the FLA and the regional al-Qaida affiliate, JNIM, launched heavy attacks that included the death of Mali’s defense minister, Gen. Sadio Camara, at his home and the seizure of several key towns.
The current military junta, led by Gen. Assimi Goita, has shifted its international alignment from Western allies to Russia for security assistance following military coups in Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. Despite this shift, the security situation remains volatile with a record number of militant attacks reported, while government forces and Russian fighters have faced accusations of targeting civilians suspected of militant collaboration.
“On our side, the toll is five dead and about 10 wounded," he added and claimed the militaries, including Russia's Africa Corps, suffered “many deaths.”
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