Extremists kill 5 soldiers in central Mali

BAMAKO, Mali – Mali’s military says that extremists ambushed an army convoy in central Mali on Wednesday killing at least five soldiers.

Army spokesman Col. Diarran Kone said Thursday that several others were wounded, and the assailants also damaged materials in the attack on the escort mission.

The attack was claimed by the al-Qaida-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam Muslimeen, known as JNIM , which also says it is holding two Malian soldiers hostage.

Kone would not comment on the claims by the extremist group.

Groups linked to al-Qaida are present in northern and central Mali and regularly attack the Malian army and local communities they consider hostile to their presence. More than 500 people have died in various attacks in Mali since the beginning of the year.