Al-Qaida-linked JNIM claims a deadly Mali army camp attack and releases video of captured soldiers

The al-Qaida-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin militant group claimed responsibility for a deadly attack on a Malian army camp in central Mali, releasing videos of captured soldiers and alleging over 100 deaths. The group said their fighters neutralized 150 Malian soldiers, including two colonels and a captain, while capturing 93 others.

However, the Associated Press could not independently verify these figures. The attack occurred on September 10, coinciding with Mali's upcoming Independence Day celebration. JNIM, one of the deadliest affiliates of al-Qaida in the Sahel region, seeks to drive out French forces and operates across much of Mali. The junta ruling Mali since a 2021 coup has been increasingly reliant on Russian assistance against militants, but security concerns persist.