Malian army says dozens of suspected militants killed in strikes near Segou

BAMAKO, Mali

Mali on Sunday carried out a series of coordinated strikes that killed several dozen suspected terrorists during operations west of the central city of Segou, according to a statement from the General Staff of the Armed Forces.

The army said the actions followed territorial surveillance conducted on Feb. 7, during which an armed group was tracked to a wooded area west of Segou where it attempted to hide. About 15 individuals were targeted and hit successfully.

A second strike later neutralized around 10 suspected militants and their logistical equipment as they attempted to land in a canoe on the left bank of the Niger River, also west of Segou.

In the same area, another group of about 10 suspected militants travelling on motorcycles was detected and neutralized.

The chief of the General Staff said operations would continue nationwide. “The coordinated search and neutralisation operations against terrorists are continuing across the entire territory.”

Mali has faced persistent insecurity for more than a decade, particularly in its central and northern regions, where armed groups linked to militant organizations and local conflicts have carried out attacks against security forces and civilians.

The army regularly announces counterterrorism operations as part of efforts to reassert control over the territory and curb the activities of armed groups, especially in areas around key population centres and along the Niger River corridor.