Witnesses in San described intense clashes that unfolded before sunrise. “This was clearly a terrorist attack,» a local resident recounted. “It started at 5:00 AM with heavy explosions and continuous gunfire.” The resident noted that “calm has now returned.”

In an official statement, the Malian army described the incident as a “failed attempt to breach the San military base on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at 5:30 AM.” The military claimed a “strong counterattack by Malian forces” successfully repelled the assault, asserting that “the situation is fully under control.”

Jihadist group claims responsibility

The attack was claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in the Sahel. In a statement, the group declared it had achieved “full control of a Malian army barracks in San, Ségou region, Sunday morning.” Earlier, on July 18, at least 50 soldiers were killed in northern Mali when a military convoy was ambushed by a coalition of JNIM jihadists and Tuareg separatists from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). This remains one of the deadliest attacks on Malian forces since the conflict escalated.

Mali has faced a severe security crisis since 2012, driven by violence from Al-Qaeda and ISIS-affiliated groups, as well as armed criminal factions and Tuareg separatist movements. The instability has been compounded by an economic downturn. Following two military coups in 2020 and 2021, the country is now governed by a junta that vowed to restore security and preserve national unity.