Attack kills 5 soldiers in northern Mali

Armed rebel groups attacked two military camps in northern Mali, resulting in the deaths of five soldiers and 11 others missing. The attack, claimed by the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), follows a resurgence of activity by separatist armed groups in the region. Conflicting accounts from the army and the CMA make verification challenging. The CMA, dominated by Tuareg fighters seeking autonomy or independence, had previously signed a peace agreement in 2015 but resumed operations against the Malian army earlier this month. The attack coincides with the withdrawal of the UN peacekeeping mission MINUSMA and the junta’s push for control.