Arabic version: هجمات منسقة تهز المدن الكبرى في مالي
Explosions and sustained gunfire have been reported in Mali’s capital, Bamako, as armed groups launch apparently coordinated attacks across the country. According to BBC News, the military reported ongoing fighting, stating that “our defence and security forces are currently engaged in repelling the attackers”.
Witnesses have described scenes of chaos in Kati, where gunfire has been reported near a major military base. Soldiers have been deployed to block roads in the area. Attacks have also been reported in northern cities, including Gao and Kidal, as well as in Sevare, central Mali. Analysts have characterized the incident as the largest jihadist attack in years.
The assault appears to involve the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), which seeks a breakaway ethnic Tuareg state, and the jihadist group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which has staged simultaneous attacks across multiple locations. The military has described the attackers as unidentified “terrorist groups” and claims the situation is under control, although unconfirmed reports indicate that fighting continues.
Despite some residents reporting calm in parts of Bamako, gunfire persists in certain areas. Checkpoints have been established on roads leading to the airport, with vehicles being searched. A resident returning from Ethiopia noted that all flights into Bamako had been cancelled early on Saturday. The UK Foreign Office has advised against all travel to Mali, stating that Bamako International Airport had been temporarily closed.
Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel programme at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, noted that this incident represents one of the largest coordinated jihadist attacks on Mali for years. The US State Department condemned the attacks, expressing condolences to the victims and their families, and advised citizens to shelter in place due to ongoing violence around the airport and near Kati. The FLA has claimed control of Kidal and is reportedly expanding its presence in Gao, although these claims remain unverified.
Mali is currently governed by a military junta led by Gen Assimi Goïta, who first seized power in a coup in 2020. The junta initially promised to restore security in the face of the long-standing insurgency, but large areas of the north and east continue to be beyond government control, as the jihadist insurgency rages on.
