Malian Military Reports Success in Joint CSS Operation Against Terrorists

The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) have announced major successes in ongoing counterterrorism operations. The offensive was carried out by the Confederation of the Sahel States (CSS), a regional coalition formed by Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

In a statement on Sunday, the military said intelligence-sharing among CSS forces led to the interception of a stolen vehicle. According to the statement, on March 28, 2025, joint forces successfully intercepted a car carrying two suspected terrorists in Djidara, Gao region, Mali. The vehicle had been stolen a month earlier between Dori and Tera in Niger. The individuals, identified as Adama Harouna, the driver, and Lamine Sidy Ould, the presumed owner, were reportedly using border routes to evade security forces. The military linked them to a broader criminal and terrorist network

The initial findings of the investigation confirm the existence of a vast mafia and terrorist network with various accomplices, which is currently being dismantled,” the statement read.

A day later, on March 29, the Confederation’s aerial surveillance identified a large convoy of terrorists on motorcycles attempting to cross the borders between the three allied nations. In response, targeted airstrikes were launched.

A first strike successfully targeted a group of terrorists sheltering under a hangar in the Hourara sector of Mali. Preliminary assessments confirm the neutralisation of several terrorists and the destruction of about a dozen motorcycles”, FAMa recounted.

According to the military, secondary explosions at the site indicated the presence of significant logistical stockpiles. Shortly afterwards, a second airstrike reportedly destroyed a pickup truck in Fitilli, Mali.

The CSS alliance was formed in 2023 by Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger as a defence pact following their withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The three countries have since intensified joint military efforts to combat terrorist groups that have destabilised the Sahel for over a decade.

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