Mali: Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims kills more 100 soldiers in jihad attack this month

It looks as if here yet again, as we have seen in Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Somalia and elsewhere, that the jihad forces are better equipped, better trained, and better funded than the national military forces. If an Islamic state is established in Mali, it could join forces with those who are trying to establish one in Nigeria. The group seems to get a good deal of its funding in ransoms for hostages.

Meanwhile, those who continue to insist that “moderate Muslims” are our “allies,” and that “moderate Islam” will pacify this situation and others, never bother to explain why groups of this kind don’t ever face any serious challenge from Muslims who claim that despite their name, what they’re doing is not Islamic at all.

“Al Qaeda-linked militants kill more than 100 Malian soldiers in attack this month, sources say,” Reuters, September 21, 2026:

DAKAR, Sept 21 – Jihadists killed more than 100 soldiers in central Mali this month, two sources said, while the army said it had evacuated troops from the camp under attack and struck enemy positions during a retaliatory operation lasting more than a week.

The September 10 attack in the town of Dioura and another on the airport in the town of Sevare were the latest by al Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) against Mali’s military rulers who seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021.

In April, JNIM joined forces with the Tuareg-led separatist group the FLA to carry out nationwide attacks that killed Mali’s defence minister and hit the main airport, highlighting lack of progress by pro-government fighters against the insurgents.

A security source said 130 soldiers died in the September 10 attack in Dioura with more than 100 taken hostage. A diplomatic source said around 120 soldiers were killed….

As of Monday, there had been six consecutive nights of shelling at Sevare airport, one local resident told Reuters. The resident, who visited the hospital in Sevare, reported seeing about 40 wounded Malian soldiers and Russian fighters there.

Russian troops were no longer visible in the town of Sevare on Monday, the resident added, asking not to be named for fear of reprisal.

Meanwhile, JNIM fighters on motorbikes appeared to have encircled the military camp in Konna, about 55 km from Sevare, according to two Konna residents.