Deadly Wave of Attacks in Mali: Islamist Extremists Target Military Camp and Passenger Boat, Leaving Dozens Dead

 In yet another wave of violent attacks in Mali, Islamist militants targeted a military camp and a passenger boat, leaving dozens dead. The attacks occurred just a day after separate incidents by al-Qaeda-linked insurgents resulted in the deaths of 49 civilians and 15 government soldiers.

The military camp, located in Mali's restive north, was attacked on September 8th, with the armed forces confirming that response and evaluation were still ongoing. The previous day's attacks targeted a passenger boat near Timbuktu on the Niger River and a military position in Bamba in the Gao region.

Responsibility for these attacks was claimed by JNIM, an umbrella coalition of armed groups aligned with al-Qaeda. The death toll was particularly high due to the inability of some passengers on the boat to swim.

According to Malian army spokesman Souleymane Dembélé, when the boat came under attack, the soldiers on board engaged in a firefight with the terrorists. Unfortunately, many civilians who couldn't swim jumped into the water, resulting in fatalities.

These attacks highlight the increasing menace of al-Qaeda-affiliated and Islamic State-linked groups, who have almost doubled the territory they control in Mali in less than a year. The United Nations reported last month that these militant groups were utilizing a weak government and armed groups that had signed a 2015 peace agreement to expand their influence.

The situation in Mali has deteriorated over the years, with a military coup in 2012 leading to the formation of an Islamic state by rebel groups in the north. Although a French-led military operation forced the extremist rebels from power in the north, they regrouped in more populated central Mali in 2015 and have remained active since.

In August 2020, Mali's president was overthrown in a coup, followed by another coup in June 2021, in which an army colonel with ties to Russia's military and the Wagner mercenary group assumed the presidency. The escalating violence has also resulted in the blockading of Timbuktu by armed groups, preventing the city from receiving basic goods.

This has led to the displacement of over 30,000 residents, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis in the region. Compounding the situation, the United Nations is set to withdraw its 17,000-member peacekeeping mission, MINUSMA, from Mali at the government's request by the end of the year.

MINUSMA, the most dangerous UN mission in the world, has experienced over 300 casualties since its deployment in 2013. The growing insecurity in Mali has also contributed to increased instability in the Sahel region of West Africa. Despite two coups in recent years, the Malian military has vowed to halt the jihadi violence plaguing the country.

However, the continuous attacks and expansion of militant groups indicate the challenges faced by the government in restoring stability and security to Mali and its people.