War Intensifies in Northern Mali Over Control of a Strategic City

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Heavy fighting continues in northern Mali between the Malian army and Tuareg separatists over the strategic town of Anéfis.

A military convoy departing Anéfis came under attack on Saturday morning by separatist forces, according to military and security sources.

Over the past several weeks, fierce battles have been fought for control of the town.

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In early July, a large-scale coordinated offensive carried out jointly by the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) and the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (Tuaregs) temporarily captured the town while laying siege to the Malian army‘s military base, which was defended by the Malian Armed Forces with support from members of Russia’s Africa Corps paramilitary force.

A military source in Gao told Agence France-Presse (AFP): “Our convoy, which was leaving Anéfis for Gao, was attacked this morning in Tabankort. Fighting is still ongoing. It was an ambush targeting the army.”

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A source from the Azawad Liberation Front confirmed the attack, stating: “We attacked the convoy of approximately fifty vehicles between Tabankort and Tangara,” adding that the army abandoned several pieces of equipment, including trucks.

A security source told AFP that “the army suffered heavy losses, although the remainder of the convoy managed to continue its journey.”

A local official source also reported “numerous casualties.”

Images released by the Azawad Liberation Front purportedly show dozens of captured Malian soldiers.

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According to the official casualty report issued by the General Staff on July 12, the recent intense clashes in Anéfis left around thirty Malian soldiers dead and approximately sixty others wounded.

On July 10, the Malian army, supported by members of Russia’s Africa Corps, regained control of Anéfis after several days of intense fighting.

Since 2012, Mali has been facing a severe security crisis compounded by a deep economic crisis. The instability has been fueled by violence carried out by groups affiliated with extremist organizations such as Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, as well as local criminal groups and Tuareg separatist movements.

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Terrorist organizations have adopted new strategies inspired by the Islamic State’s operational doctrine, shifting away from hit-and-run attacks in favor of attempts to seize or besiege strategic cities, including the capital, Bamako.

Following two successive military coups in 2020 and 2021, Mali has remained under military rule, with the ruling junta pledging to restore security and safeguard the country’s territorial integrity.

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