This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-50466025
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Mali army loses 24 soldiers in Niger border attack | Mali army loses 24 soldiers in Niger border attack |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Twenty-four soldiers have been killed in an attack by militants in eastern Mali, the country's army has said. | Twenty-four soldiers have been killed in an attack by militants in eastern Mali, the country's army has said. |
Another 29 were also injured during a joint operation between troops from Mali and Niger in the Gao border region. | Another 29 were also injured during a joint operation between troops from Mali and Niger in the Gao border region. |
Mali's army said 17 "terrorists" were killed and 100 suspects were being held in Tiloa, in Niger. | Mali's army said 17 "terrorists" were killed and 100 suspects were being held in Tiloa, in Niger. |
It comes weeks after 54 troops were killed in another attack in Mali - one of the deadliest in the past decade. | |
Details of Monday's attack in Mali are unclear, and authorities have not identified what group the assailants belonged to. | |
On its Twitter account, the Malian army posted images several burned-out motorcycles, and said 70 were destroyed during the incident. | |
Bomb-making workshop | |
In a separate development, the French military said 24 suspected militants were killed in a two-week-long operation in Mali and Burkina Faso. | |
French soldiers carried out the operation with regional troops which make up the G5 Sahel counter-insurgency force. | |
A bomb-making workshop had also been destroyed, and weapons and ammunition seized, the G5 Sahel force said in a statement. | |
Mali has suffered violence since 2012 when Islamist militants exploited a Tuareg separatist uprising, seizing several key cities. | Mali has suffered violence since 2012 when Islamist militants exploited a Tuareg separatist uprising, seizing several key cities. |
With help from France, its former European ruler, Malian forces regained control of territory lost to violent jihadists. | |
Humanitarian crisis | |
However security forces have been struggling to contain the threat from militant Islamist groups, some of which are linked to the so-called Islamic State or al-Qaeda. In recent months, Mali's military has abandoned several outposts. | |
Islamist violence has also spread to other countries in the region, fuelled by ethnic tensions. | Islamist violence has also spread to other countries in the region, fuelled by ethnic tensions. |
According to the UN, more than 1,500 civilians have been killed in Mali and Burkina Faso since January, with millions more in need of humanitarian assistance. | According to the UN, more than 1,500 civilians have been killed in Mali and Burkina Faso since January, with millions more in need of humanitarian assistance. |
A 15,000-strong UN peacekeeping force is currently stationed in Mali. | A 15,000-strong UN peacekeeping force is currently stationed in Mali. |
The country is also a member of the G5 Sahel force comprised of troops from Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Chad. | |
However efforts by the G5 have been hampered by insufficient funding, training and equipment. | However efforts by the G5 have been hampered by insufficient funding, training and equipment. |
West African leaders have pledged $1bn (£805m) over the next five years to combat Islamist militancy in the region. French President Emmanuel Macron has also said more military resources will be sent to Mali from 2020. | West African leaders have pledged $1bn (£805m) over the next five years to combat Islamist militancy in the region. French President Emmanuel Macron has also said more military resources will be sent to Mali from 2020. |