Move FM Global News

BAMAKO, Mali – Fifty-four soldiers and a civilian have been killed in an attack on a military post in the eastern Indelimane area of Mali, Communication Minister Yaya Sangare said Saturday.

The attack on Friday near the border with Niger killed more than 80% of the personnel on the base, with only 10 surviving the assault.

“Following an attack on the Armed Forces positions at Indelimane, the reinforcement deployed there found 54 bodies, including one of a civilian, 10 survivors and noted significant material damage. The situation is under control,” Sangare said in a statement posted on Tqwitter on Saturday.

Mali military officials described the offensive as a terrorist attack, however no group has claimed responsibility.

Sangare said the situation was now under control and a process is underway to identify the bodies of those killed. A separate statement, attributed to the gobvernment, said reinforcements were being dispatched to the military post.

Violence in Mali appears to be becoming more commonplace. Just a month ago, two jihadist attacks killed 40 soldiers near the border with Burkina Faso.