Mali Faces Second Major Attack in Ten Weeks, Raising Questions About Military Strategy

Mali's military was hit by coordinated attacks across five locations on July 4, 2026—the second nationwide assault in ten weeks. Both were carried out by JNIM, a militant group tied to al-Qaeda, and the FLA, a Tuareg separatist group. The junta's Russian-backed security approach appears unable to stop these attacks, threatening its grip on power.