Rebels Launch Fatal Ambush on Mali Convoy North of Gao

On Saturday, jihadist militants and a separatist faction ambushed a Malian army convoy in the troubled north, killing or capturing dozens of soldiers, according to rebel claims.

The Malian military confirmed the ambush, stating that armed groups attacked a convoy of its troops and partners in a remote area of the northern Gao region. It offered no further details, only noting that “a counter‑attack is underway.”

Both the regional al‑Qaeda affiliate JNIM and the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) claimed responsibility in separate statements, citing “great human losses” and “serious material damage” inflicted on the Malian army.

Observers warn that this latest collaboration between the two groups threatens Mali’s stability and its ruling junta.

“Many soldiers were killed and others taken alive; army vehicles, including armored cars, were destroyed or captured intact,” said FLA spokesperson Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane.

The rebels released videos allegedly showing Malian soldiers lined up as if surrendering, surrounded by militants and military vehicles. In one clip, rebels opened fire on soldiers lying on the ground. The Associated Press could not independently verify the footage.

This attack is the latest in a string of militant assaults on Malian security forces over recent months, as armed groups vie for influence and territory across the Sahel. Mali, a landlocked nation within the Sahel—a broad region south of the Sahara—has become a hotspot for extremist violence in recent years.

For years, Tuareg‑led separatist groups in northern Mali have fought to establish an independent state called Azawad. In 2024, these groups united under the banner of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA).

The FLA and JNIM have increasingly coordinated their attacks on Malian forces, including their largest joint operation in over a decade, which occurred in April.

(FRANCE 24 with AP)

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