Explosions occurred in Mali's capital Bamako. According to preliminary data, the attack was organized by armed jihadist groups. The military reported full mobilization of forces and repelling attacks, reports Todayinfo news agency.
Witnesses report gunfire and explosions near the Kati military base on the outskirts of the capital, roads are blocked. Reports of fighting also come from the northern cities of Gao and Kidal, as well as central Sévaré. Experts believe this could be the largest attack in recent years.
Amid the events, conflicting information about the situation in the country is spreading. One resident reported the cancellation of morning flights, but the impact on airport operations is unknown. The US Embassy advised its citizens to stay indoors and avoid travel, citing gunfire near Modibo Keita International Airport. Some residents note relative calm in many areas of the capital, but gunfire is heard in some places and road checks have been intensified.
Ulf Laessing, an expert at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, called this the largest coordinated jihadist attack in recent years. Malian military claims to control the situation, but many reports indicate ongoing clashes. Videos circulated on social media claim that the attack involved the group "Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin" and rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front. The latter's representative, Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadan, stated that fighters captured Kidal and are expanding control in the Gao area, calling on neighboring countries not to intervene. He also released footage of captured positions and a downed helicopter, but there is no independent confirmation of this data.
The movement for the independence of Azawad in the north of the country has been ongoing for many years, and a significant part of this territory is effectively under rebel control. Currently, Mali is governed by a military junta led by Assimi Goita, who came to power after the 2020 coup. The authorities promised to stabilize the situation, but the country still faces threats from Tuareg separatists and Islamist groups linked to Al-Qaeda. Previously, UN peacekeepers and French troops participated in the fight against the rebels, but after the change of power, they left the country. Mali's military leadership brought in Russian mercenaries from the Wagner PMC, later replaced by structures known as the "African Corps." Despite this, significant territories in the north and east remain outside government control. In 2024, Mali, together with Burkina Faso and Niger, formed the Confederation of Sahel States. In all three countries, the military came to power.
