The deadliest assault on the Malian Armed Forces (Fama) in several months occurred on Friday near the border with Burkina.
A group of terrorists attacked the Malian army’s military camp in Mondoro (Center) not far from the border with Burkina Faso on Friday morning.
In a statement, the Malian Armed Forces said 27 of their soldiers were killed and seven others were reported missing. On the jihadist side, 70 people were killed, 23 of them during a sweep of terrorist sanctuaries.
Following this attack, the president of the Transition, Colonel Assimi Goita, declared three days of national mourning.
The Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General (SRSG) for Mali and Head of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), El-Ghassim Wane, strongly condemned the attack.
“In these painful moments, I offer, on behalf of MINUSMA, my deepest condolences to the transitional authorities, the Malian people, and the families and loved ones of the fallen soldiers. I wish a speedy recovery to the injured,” he said.
The SRSG reiterated the unwavering commitment of MINUSMA to the Malians in their legitimate quest for peace and stability.
The Mondoro camp has been the target of several attacks in the past by jihadists seeking to impose their hold on central government representations or the foreign presence.
This attack comes at a time of restructuring of the Malian army, after the announced departure of Barkhane, the French military operation in the Sahel, and Takuba, the European Task Force in Mali.
TE/id/fss/abj/APA