Mali army says killed dozens of ‘terrorists’

BAMAKO: Mali´s army on Sunday said it had killed some 40 “terrorists” and destroyed one of their bases in two operations in the centre of the jihadist-plagued country.

Since taking power in a double coup in 2020 and 2021, Mali´s military leaders have made a priority of tackling the Sahel nation´s multiple security issues. An operation on Thursday in Ounguel destroyed “an enemy base, with around 30 terrorists neutralised”, an army statement said.

On Friday, a second operation saw 10 militants killed and goods including pick-up trucks and motorbikes seized. Mali is battling a political, security and economic crisis and has been ravaged by al-Qaeda and Islamic State factions since 2012. It also faces a separatist insurgency in the volatile desert north.