The raid in Central Mali base on Tuesday is the biggest attack on the army in months. In recent times, Mali has been faced with a growing threat from armed groups based in the desert north. Hence, Mali’s defence minister Tieman Hubert Coulibaly stated “The toll has increased: we have lost 17 men and 35 are wounded,”

The Malian government said the attackers would be hunted down and punished, and that the military had control of Nampala.  He further said, “One thing is sure, this was a terrorist action that targeted a military objective. So an appropriate military response is forthcoming”.