Mali: Eight soldiers killed in central region May 2

Event

Eight Malian soldiers have been killed, and four wounded in an ambush perpetrated by suspected jihadist militants on Tuesday, May 2 on the road between Diabali and Nampala. According to a local official, an army vehicle was destroyed, and another was stolen by the attackers.

The attack came soon after the French army announced that it had killed or captured approximately 20 suspected jihadist militants in an operation southwest of Gao.

Context

Nampala has been the target of several deadly jihadist attacks over the last year, including an ambush on July 19, 2016 which caused the death of 17 people, and left 37 others wounded.

Due to the presence of various armed groups, Mali's northern and central regions remain unstable despite a French-led intervention launched in 2013 that drove many extremists from their strongholds. France maintains approximately 4000 troops who are stationed throughout the Sahel. Additionally, the United Nations' ongoing presence in the country, MINUSMA, is one of the largest UN peacekeeping missions in the world.

Advice

The security environment in Mali remains complex, particularly in the north and central regions. Professional security advice and support should be sought prior to travel.

Due to the underlying terrorist and kidnapping threats prevalent in the country, all those present in Mali are advised to remain discreet regarding personal details, particularly information concerning nationality, employment, family, etc. Individuals are also advised to avoid public events and places frequented by Westerners, to remain vigilant at all times (especially in local markets, now used by terrorists as recruitment grounds), and to report any suspicious objects or behavior to the authorities.