Twenty-five members of the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) and 15 “terrorists” died in clashes that occurred Monday and Tuesday in the middle of the country, according to a statement by the government on Tuesday evening.
According to the same statement, casualties are provisional and further “information” will be “communicated depending on the evolution of the situation on the ground.”
The clashes that targeted the Boulkessi and Mondoro military barracks have also resulted in “four military wounded, sixty missing, and heavy losses in equipment,” the release explains, adding however that the Army launched air strikes that destroyed five vehicles belonging to the “terrorists.”
The release signed by the Minister of Communication, in charge of Relations with the Institutions, also indicates that the wounded soldiers were “airlifted to the nearby town of Seware.”
While “strongly” condemning these attacks, the Malian government assures that a large-scale joint operation of FAMa and Burkinabe troops, supported by French forces called ‘Barkhane’ is underway to neutralize the assailants.”
MD/cat/fss/abj/APA