An ambush claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) targeted a convoy of Malian soldiers and their Russian allies on Friday, August 1, in central Mali.
That same day, authorities extended the curfew in Kayes by 30 days, following unprecedented jihadist attacks in the region in July.
JNIM, an al-Qaeda affiliate is claiming responsibility for the ambush of the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) convoy and their Russian allies in Tenenkou district, Mopti region (central Mali), APA has learned from sources.
According to a message released in Arabic through Azzallaqa, the group’s propaganda channel, the attack occurred in the morning of August 1. The jihadist group claimed to have inflicted losses, although it did not provide a casualty count.
The General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces (EMGA) confirmed the incident on the same day, stating that an ambush was “underway” against a FAMa unit in Tenenkou.
This attack reflects the increasing pressure jihadist groups are exerting on Malian forces in various regions of the country. UN Security Council report S/2025/482 highlights an intensification of JNIM operations in Mali, where the group is deploying increasingly sophisticated tactics, including drones and improvised explosive devices, in a bid to establish lasting territorial control.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the Malian authorities have also decided to extend the curfew in the western region of Kayes, which borders Senegal, for another 30 days. In a statement dated July 30, regional governor Brigadier General Moussa Soumaré announced the curfew would remain in force from August 1 to 30, 2025, from midnight to 5 a.m. each night.
The curfew was first imposed following coordinated attacks on July 1, attributed to JNIM, on several towns in Kayes, including Sandaré, Nioro du Sahel, Gogui, Diboli, Niono, and Molodo. The attacks, unprecedented in scale for western Mali, targeted FAMa positions and sparked concern even in neighbouring Senegalese border areas.
At the time, the Malian army reported having neutralised more than 80 attackers and seizing a significant cache of weapons. However, no independent source has confirmed these figures. Infrastructure was damaged, and some residents temporarily fled the affected areas.
Amid this situation of mounting jihadist pressure both east and west, the Malian authorities continue security operations while calling on the population to cooperate with defense and security forces.
AC/lb/as/APA