JNIM Claims Responsibility for Deadly Attack in Mali’s Ségou Region
The Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated terrorist group, has claimed responsibility for a deadly ambush against Malian security forces in the Ségou region.
The attack, which occurred on Feb. 19, 2025, targeted a military convoy near the villages of Farabougou and Goma. In a statement released through jihadist channels, JNIM claimed its fighters killed at least nine members of the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) and local Donso militia, seizing a significant cache of weapons and equipment.
According to JNIM, the attack resulted in the capture of: 27 motorcycles, a drone, a PICA armored pickup truck, an RPG launcher, Six light firearms and Other military equipment
Additionally, the group claimed to have destroyed ten motorcycles during the assault.
This latest attack highlights the worsening security crisis in Mali, where jihadist groups, including JNIM and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS), have expanded their control over rural areas, particularly in the central and northern regions.
Since the 2020 military coup, Mali has witnessed a surge in extremist violence, with state security forces struggling to contain insurgent advances. Ségou, Mopti, and Timbuktu remain key flashpoints, where terrorist factions have intensified their attacks on military patrols and civilian populations.
Despite official statements from the Malian government claiming security gains, analysts note that the armed forces remain under-equipped and overstretched, making them vulnerable to highly coordinated attacks such as the one in Ségou.
Military sources indicate that while counteroffensive operations are underway, insurgents have leveraged local grievances, security gaps, and territorial knowledge to evade government forces and consolidate their hold on strategic areas.
