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Mali Says 30 Soldiers Killed in Northern Attack

Jimisayo OpanugabyJimisayo Opanuga
July 12, 2026
Mali map. Credit: Britannica

Mali’s army chief said around 30 soldiers had been killed in recent fighting to retake the key northern town of Anefis from Al-Qaeda-linked terrorists and their Tuareg separatist allies.

General Jean Elysee Dao announced the toll on state television, saying a further 60 soldiers had been wounded, including serious cases.

“I regret the loss of around 30 people, 30 fallen martyrs. We also have around 60 wounded, including serious cases,” Dao said.

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The army said it had retaken the town on Friday after nearly a week of fighting.

Anefis had been seized on July 4 by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-linked coalition, and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a predominantly Tuareg separatist movement.

Across the Sahel, motorcycles have become the primary means of transportation for terrorists seeking vehicles that are tough, easy to repair, and can operate on rough terrain. AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Russian paramilitaries from the Africa Corps and Malian soldiers had been entrenched inside a military camp in the town since July 4, holding out until reinforcements arrived.

An army convoy with dozens of vehicles and air support broke through from Gao on Thursday night, retaking the town despite ambushes.

The army said it had neutralised “around 100” insurgents.

The Tuareg separatists said in a statement on Saturday they had inflicted “the heaviest material and human losses” on the army and Russian paramilitaries in the region, while also losing “some of (our) best” fighters.

Anefis is located about 100 kilometres from the strategic city of Kidal, which rebels seized in a previous assault in April.

Mali has been ruled by a military junta since coups in 2020 and 2021, with the government struggling to restore security after years of terrorist and separatist unrest.

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  • Jimisayo Opanuga

    Jimisayo Opanuga is a web writer in the Digital Department at News Central TV, where she covers African and international stories. Her reporting focuses on social issues, health, justice, and the environment, alongside general-interest news. She is passionate about telling stories that inform the public and give voice to underreported communities.
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