source: AMAP; Undisclosed Source; AFP; FAMAMali; Essor; Reuters; Telegram; aBamako; Malivox; Xinhua; Le Pays Dogon; Reelle Afrique; Studio Tamani; Mali Actu
actor1: JNIM: Group for Support of Islam and Muslims
actor2: Military Forces of Mali (2013-2020)
location: Batouma
notes: On 27 August 2020, presumed JNIM militants ambushed a Malian army convoy near Batouma (Douentza, Mopti). Four soldiers were killed and at least twelve others wounded. The Malian army launched a counterattack involving airstrikes and ground forces, and reportedly 'neutralized' twenty militants (as communicated in a statement) and recovered dozens of motorbikes. JNIM claimed responsibility via Al Qaeda-linked Thabat News Agency and said it killed 15 soldiers, wounded 3, and destroyed 4 tank trucks and 2 vehicles. Neither the 20 militants 'neutralized' by the Malian army nor the higher death toll in the ranks of the Malian army communicated by Thabat News Agency could be independently verified.