Mali Junta Holds Crisis Meeting as Jihadist Attacks Surge in the Centre

Mali’s military rulers have held a crisis meeting after a run of jihadist attacks on army positions in the centre of the country. The meeting, around junta leader General Assimi Goïta, took place in Bamako on Sunday 20 September, Radio France Internationale reported.

It follows the deadliest assault on the army in years and strikes on an air base that anchors Mali’s drone war. For a government that took power promising to restore security, the past two weeks have been a severe test.

What Is Known About the Meeting

RFI said the meeting was held to take stock of the security situation after the surge in attacks of recent days. It did not report any concrete decisions, such as a new operational plan or changes in the command.

The junta has not published an account of the meeting. Official communication has so far been limited to statements on air and ground operations against the attackers.

The Fall of Dioura

On 10 September fighters of JNIM, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims, attacked the Dioura army camp in Mopti region. JNIM, al-Qaeda’s affiliate in the Sahel, claimed to have taken control of the base.

Initial reports on 14 September put the toll at 50 soldiers and five Russian Africa Corps paramilitaries, citing sources who spoke to AFP. By 19 September, AFP-cited sources said more than 100 soldiers had died, as The Rio Times reported.

Strikes on Sévaré and Konna

On 14 September JNIM carried out two further operations, against the army camp at Konna and against Sévaré airport, Le Monde reported. Sévaré hosts an important military air base and a small Africa Corps contingent.

The Ivorian news site KOACI reported attacks with kamikaze drones and mortar fire in two waves overnight. Several sources spoke of destroyed helicopters and drones, but no official tally has been published.

JNIM later claimed to have hit Bayraktar TB2 and Akinci drones, attack helicopters and a radar at the base, the Spanish outlet Demócrata reported. Those claims come from the group and have not been independently verified.

Why Sévaré Matters

Turkish-made drones have been central to the junta’s campaign against jihadist and separatist groups since it broke with France. An attack on the base that operates them strikes at the army’s main advantage.

Sévaré also sits on the road linking the capital, Bamako, to the north and east of the country. RFI reported on 19 September that jihadists had also targeted a checkpoint near Bamako.

A Year of Heavy Blows

The latest attacks follow a joint offensive in late April by JNIM and the Tuareg-led rebels of the FLA. Rebels seized Kidal in the north, and Defence Minister Sadio Camara died in a car bomb attack on his home in Kati.

Camara was regarded as the architect of Mali’s turn from France to Russia for security support. Russia’s Africa Corps, which replaced the Wagner group, has since become a direct target of the insurgents.

The Human Cost and the Outside World

The UN human rights office has said reports of extrajudicial killings in Mali are gravely concerning and called for investigations. Rights groups have accused both jihadists and government forces of abuses against civilians.

Mali, a major gold producer, left the regional bloc Ecowas with Burkina Faso and Niger, which are also run by military governments. The three have formed their own Alliance of Sahel States, but their joint forces have not stopped the insurgency.

What to Watch Next

The immediate question is whether the junta announces changes to its command or strategy after the meeting. Any official casualty figure for Dioura would also be a first.

Foreign mining companies and neighbouring governments are watching whether the army can hold its positions in the centre. The road between Bamako and the north is the lifeline to watch.

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