A daring attack on a military camp in Timbuktu, Mali, was thwarted by the Malian army on Monday morning, resulting in the deaths of 13 assailants. The incident began with a car bomb explosion in the city center, followed by gunfire, according to local officials and eyewitnesses. The Malian Armed Forces quickly gained control of the situation, seizing weaponry and vehicles from the attackers.
In a statement released on Monday afternoon, the army praised the swift reaction of its soldiers, saying, “The terrorists were quickly defeated by the swiftness of the soldiers’ reaction.” This incident marks the second attack in two days attributed to the jihadist group Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, or JNIM. On Sunday, JNIM launched an attack on a military base in Boulkessi, central Mali, near the border with Burkina Faso, killing over 30 Malian soldiers, as reported by two security sources.
JNIM, an Al-Qaeda-linked group, has claimed responsibility for several recent attacks in the region, including an assault on a base in Dioura, central Mali, on May 24, 2025, where they claimed to have killed 40 soldiers. The group’s activities have contributed to a surge in violence across Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, with over 400 soldiers reportedly killed by insurgents since the start of May.
The three countries, ruled by military juntas that took power between 2020 and 2023, had pledged to end jihadist violence. However, they have struggled to meet this commitment, with JNIM and other insurgent groups continuing to launch deadly attacks. As the situation remains volatile, the international community is closely monitoring the developments in the region. According to reports from Jeune Afrique and Reuters, the attacks have raised concerns about the ability of the military regimes to combat the growing insurgency.
