On July 18, 2026, the Jnim jihadist group launched a coordinated assault on the military camp in Kouakourou, seizing control of the facility. The following day, militants shot down an army helicopter attempting to provide support. Several soldiers in civilian clothing were captured after attempting to blend in with fleeing residents.

Under direct orders from Jnim commanders, all residents were forced to abandon their homes immediately. These accounts have been confirmed by multiple village leaders and eyewitnesses in Kouakourou.

Relief convoy fails to reach destination

In the days following the attack, Malian forces initiated a series of airstrikes targeting militant positions in the region. On July 21, military officials announced the neutralization of five terrorists traveling on motorcycles and the destruction of a logistics vehicle allegedly transporting supplies to enemy combatants.

Despite these efforts, a reinforcement convoy—comprising Malian troops and Russian partners from the Africa Corps—was repeatedly ambushed. Drone strikes and the destruction of a critical bridge forced the military to retreat to Djenné, leaving the area under militant control.

Displaced families seek refuge in Djenné

Every resident of Kouakourou has fled the village. Many have sought shelter in nearby communities like Pora and Saba, where local residents have provided food, shelter, and emotional support despite limited resources. Others have made the arduous journey—often on foot—to Djenné, nearly 40 kilometers away.

Hundreds of displaced individuals—men, women, and children—are now staying with relatives or in temporary accommodations arranged by local authorities, including a school repurposed as a shelter. The National Directorate of Social Development has delivered several tons of food supplies and mosquito nets, while ongoing donations continue to arrive. Some have even traveled as far as the capital, Bamako, in search of safety.