BAMAKO: Militants carried out coordinated attacks in Mali’s capital Bamako and several other locations across the country on Saturday morning, the army said.
Two loud explosions and sustained gunfire shook the area near the Kati military base outside Bamako shortly before 6am local time. Soldiers quickly moved in and blocked nearby roads, according to a Reuters witness.
At the same time, similar violence broke out in the central town of Sevare and in the northern cities of Kidal and Gao. “There’s gunfire everywhere,” a resident in Sevare said.
The army confirmed that unidentified armed groups attacked multiple positions in Bamako and other parts of the country. It did not disclose exact locations. However, it said fighting was still ongoing and urged citizens to remain calm.
Widespread unrest across regions
Security tensions also spread beyond the capital. Residents reported gunfire near a military camp close to Bamako airport, which also hosts Russian mercenary forces. The camp, not the airport itself, came under fire, according to a local resident.
Authorities in Bamako said they deployed additional forces to secure key installations.
Meanwhile, in northern Mali, the situation remained unclear. A spokesperson for the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) claimed the group had seized several positions in Kidal and Gao. Reuters could not independently verify the claim.
Security sources also said the al Qaeda-linked group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin took part in the attacks. However, neither JNIM nor Islamic State-linked militants issued any immediate statement.
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Background of ongoing conflict
Mali continues to face long-running insurgencies from groups linked to al Qaeda and Daesh, along with separate Tuareg rebellions in the north.
The country’s military leadership came to power after coups in 2020 and 2021. It promised to restore security, but armed groups still carry out frequent attacks on both soldiers and civilians.
In recent years, Mali’s government has relied heavily on Russian security support while reducing cooperation with Western forces. However, it has recently begun exploring closer ties with the United States.
Earlier reports suggested that Mali and the US may reach an agreement allowing American aircraft and drones to resume surveillance flights over the country to monitor militant activity.
