An attack on a position held by the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) was reported on Thursday in Dioura, in the central Mopti region; the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) claimed responsibility, asserting that it had seized control of the barracks.
According to a statement attributed to the FAMa, Malian forces were mounting a counter-attack, and further information was expected to be released later.
The JNIM claimed responsibility for the attack via its propaganda outlets, stating that its fighters had taken “total control” of a Malian army barracks in Dioura that morning.
This attack occurs against a backdrop of escalating clashes between Malian forces and armed groups across several regions of the country.
In August, the FAMa had announced the repelling of an attempted attack on their military base in San, in the central Ségou region, whereas JNIM-affiliated channels had claimed to have seized the barracks.
According to the Malian military high command, the attack on the San base took place at dawn, and a “vigorous response” by the FAMa succeeded in repelling the assault.
Africa Corps – the Russian contingent deployed alongside Malian forces – claimed that over 40
attackers had been killed.
No independent casualty figures were available at the time.
In the weeks that followed, several releases of Malian soldiers held by the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) took place.
On August 13, 82 FAMa soldiers were released, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces. These soldiers had been held captive since the attacks of April 25, which targeted several Malian military positions.
On August 16, six wounded Malian soldiers were transferred from Kidal to Gao with the assistance of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
On August 23, a separate operation led to the release of 22 Malian soldiers held by the FLA in the Anefis area, as part of a prisoner exchange.
These various releases took place while Malian forces and the FLA remain engaged in an armed conflict, particularly in northern Mali.
Dioura has previously been the site of several attacks against Malian forces.
On May 23, 2025, the JNIM attacked the local military camp in the Mopti region, killing 41 Malian soldiers, according to a security source cited by RFI.
The group claimed responsibility for the attack and released footage purported to show the capture of the camp.
An earlier attack had also targeted the military position in Dioura in September 2023, when a coalition of rebel groups claimed to have temporarily seized the base.
MD/ac/Sf/fss/as/APA