This archive report was first published on 19 November 2019.
On November 18, 2019, a joint operation between Malian and Niger forces was underway in the Gao region of northern Mali when it came under attack by militants.
The attack, which occurred in the town of Tabankort, resulted in the deaths of 24 Malian soldiers and 29 wounded, as well as equipment damage. In contrast, 17 militants were killed and a number were captured, according to army spokesman Diarran Kone.
The attack highlights the increasing reach and sophistication of armed jihadist groups operating in the region, which has seen a surge in violence this autumn.
Earlier in November, 54 Malian soldiers were killed in an attack on an army post, one of the deadliest strikes against the Malian military in recent memory.
Additionally, on September 30, 38 Malian soldiers were killed in coordinated attacks on two army bases in the centre of the country, which has slipped from government control despite the presence of the French army and other international forces.
Violence has also spread to neighboring Burkina Faso, where 39 people were killed on November 6 when militants attacked a convoy carrying workers of Canadian gold mining company Semafo.
