News
Mali: jihadists overrun Farabougou, Tidel as army reels from internal purges
Mali: jihadists overrun Farabougou, Tidel as army reels from internal purges
By: Zagazola Makama
The Malian army has suffered fresh setbacks with the fall of two military bases to jihadists of the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM) in Farabougou and Tidel on Aug. 19.
The development point to the mounting pressure on the Forces Armées Maliennes (FAMA), already weakened by infighting and sweeping purges ordered by the ruling junta in Bamako.
At Farabougou, FAMA units supported by traditional Donzo hunters were routed, while in Tidel, Malian troops alongside their Russian partners were overpowered.
Sources reports indicate that weapons, armoured vehicles and other military assets were seized by the insurgents, with images of captured tanks already circulating on jihadist propaganda channels.
The rapid expansion of jihadist control across Mali is matched by a visible retreat of state authority, raising concerns over the government’s ability to secure its population. Analysts note that while militants tighten their grip on rural territories, the central government remains absorbed in political intrigues and internal crackdowns.
In recent weeks, several senior officers have been arrested or dismissed, accused of disloyalty or complicity in alleged coup plots. This climate of suspicion has eroded morale within the ranks and left units vulnerable to external attacks.
Sources describe the approach as “self-inflicted damage,” as the army, already stretched thin on multiple fronts, now contends with both battlefield losses and internal mistrust.
Russia’s Africa Corps, formerly Wagner, has been presented by the junta as a guarantor of security. But the setback in Tidel exposed the limits of Russian support, with reports of Russian casualties alongside Malian troops. The images of destroyed armoured vehicles and lifeless bodies, according to analysts, shatter the myth of technological superiority often associated with Moscow’s forces.
Meanwhile, GSIM appears to be strategically targeting both the community militias allied with the state, as seen in Farabougou, and the foreign security presence, as in Tidel. By doing so, the insurgents aim to undermine the government’s claims of national cohesion and foreign-backed resilience.
The Malian army high command, which rarely communicates in detail on battlefield reverses, issued a terse statement confirming “simultaneous attacks on FAMA positions in Farabougou and Biriki-were” in the early hours of Aug. 19. It pledged to provide further details later and concluded with the slogan: “United, we will overcome.”
Security experts argue, however, that the army’s divisions and the ongoing purge of officers make such unity increasingly unlikely. They warn that while a military force can recover from defeats, it cannot survive prolonged internal disunity.
Mali now resembles a drifting vessel caught in storms, with the risk of national collapse intensifying. The war that justified two military coups, they note, appears all but lost, with the jihadists tightening their hold, the army demoralised, and the junta consumed by repression and paranoia.
Mali: jihadists overrun Farabougou, Tidel as army reels from internal purges
Troops nutrialised several Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army have nutrialised several Boko Haram terrorists after it successfully repelled a terrorist ambush along the Longlari–Kanama road in Yunusari Local Government Area of Yobe State.
Security sources said the incident occurred at about 5:23 p.m. on March 14 when troops of the 159 Battalion Nigerian Army, B Company, stationed in Kanama, were returning from a routine patrol.
.According to the sources, the troops were ambushed by suspected terrorists along the Longlari–Kanama road near Mairari village.
The troops engaged the terrorists with heavy fire and neutralized several of them forcing many of them fo flee.
Following the encounter, the soldiers conducted exploitation of the general area to track the fleeing insurgents.
Troops nutrialised several Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe
Zulum Condemns Maiduguri Explosion, Calls for Calm, Vigilance in Worship, Public Places
Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has condemned in the strongest terms the explosion that occurred in some parts of the metropolis on Monday evening.
Zulum, who is currently in Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj, described the attack as despicable, cruel, and cowardly, targeting innocent people in the holy month of Ramadan.
In a statement, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Dauda Iliya, called for increased vigilance and heightened security measures, particularly in places of worship, as the festive period beckons.
“I am deeply saddened by the explosions that occurred in parts of the metropolis on Monday evening.
My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and those injured as a result of the blast. The act is utterly condemnable, barbaric, and inhumane,” said Zulum.
He added, “The recent surge in attacks is not unconnected with intense military operations in the Sambisa forest and other hideouts of the insurgents.
The Governor, therefore, assured people of the state that the military and other security agencies are on top of the situation, as adequate measures have been taken to forestall any security breach in Maiduguri and the entire state.
He called on residents to remain calm, go about their usual activities, and report any suspicious movement or activity to security agencies.
Zulum Condemns Maiduguri Explosion, Calls for Calm, Vigilance in Worship, Public Places
GOC 8 Division visits troops in Kebbi, urges vigilance in operations
By: Zagazola Makama
The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 8 Division Nigerian Army and Commander Sector 2 of Operation Fansan Yamma, Maj. Gen. PB Koughna, has conducted a familiarisation visit to troops deployed in parts of Kebbi State.
During the visit on March 15, the GOC inspected troops of CSI Battalion III at the Forward Operating Base Dirin Daji in Sakaba area of Zuru Local Government Area, as well as personnel of 223 Light Tank Battalion in the state.
The GOC was received by the Commanding Officers of the units, who briefed him on their operational activities and security situation within their areas of responsibility.
Addressing the troops, Maj. Gen. Koughna urged them to remain vigilant, committed and professional in the discharge of their duties.
He also held an operational meeting with the unit commanders, during which issues relating to ongoing operations and prevailing security challenges within their areas of responsibility were discussed.
The visit ended without incident.
GOC 8 Division visits troops in Kebbi, urges vigilance in operations
Troops nutrialised several Boko Haram terrorists in Yobe
Zulum Condemns Maiduguri Explosion, Calls for Calm, Vigilance in Worship, Public Places
GOC 8 Division visits troops in Kebbi, urges vigilance in operations
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