A wave of coordinated attacks across Mali has shaken the country’s military-led government, with explosions and sustained gunfire reported near a key military base and the capital’s international airport.
Witnesses said two loud blasts and prolonged shooting erupted early on Saturday near the Kati military camp, the country’s main army base just outside Bamako, with roads quickly sealed off by soldiers.
The violence formed part of a wider, highly organised offensive targeting multiple locations nationwide, including Bamako, Kati and towns in central and northern Mali.
According to reporting from Reuters, attackers struck strategic sites such as the Modibo Keïta International Airport and military positions, with residents describing heavy gunfire and explosions around the capital.
The Malian army said it had repelled the assaults and launched sweeping security operations, while authorities imposed curfews in affected areas. Officials reported at least 16 people injured, though no confirmed death toll has been released.
Militant alliance behind attacks
The attacks were claimed by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked group, alongside Tuareg separatists from the Azawad Liberation Front.
The alliance appears to have enabled near-simultaneous assaults across several regions, in what analysts describe as one of the most significant and coordinated offensives in Mali for years.
Some of the groups claimed to have seized parts of northern cities including Kidal and Gao, although these assertions have not been independently verified.
The scale and reach of the attacks highlight the persistent instability in Mali, where insurgent groups have battled state forces since 2012.
Despite recent efforts by the ruling junta to strengthen security, including closer ties with Russian support, the coordinated assault suggests militants retain significant operational capability.
Fighting was reported in multiple cities throughout the day, with residents describing scenes of chaos and uncertainty as security forces attempted to regain control.
Authorities later said the situation was under control, but operations were continuing amid fears of further unrest.
[Image: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Al-Qaida_rejoint_par_ses_militants_du_Maghreb_au_Mali_%288142141394%29.jpg]
Sources: AP, Reuters, The Guardian