Mopti Region: Armed Group Claims Killing of Malian Soldier in Kona

April 20, 2026 - The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) announced that it carried out an attack in the town of Kona, in Mali’s central Mopti region, resulting in the death of a Malian army soldier. According to the statement attributed to the group, the soldier was killed on the evening of Monday, April 20, 2026, in what it described as a targeted operation against regular military forces. No independent verification of the incident or details surrounding the circumstances of the attack has been provided at this stage, and Malian military authorities have not issued a detailed public confirmation. The reported incident comes amid continued insecurity in central Mali, where armed groups frequently claim targeted attacks against security personnel operating in the region.