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In a significant escalation of violence, Mali has witnessed one of its most extensive coordinated attacks in recent years, as militants linked to al-Qaida and separatist factions launched strikes across multiple cities, including the capital, Bamako. The al-Qaida-affiliated group Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) has claimed responsibility for the assaults, which targeted strategic locations such as Modibo Keïta International Airport and military installations.
A Surge of Violence in the Capital
The attacks unfolded on Saturday, April 25, 2026, as armed groups executed a well-planned offensive against military and civilian sites in Bamako and elsewhere. JNIM, in a statement posted on its website Az-Zallaqa, indicated that it carried out the strikes in collaboration with the Azawad Liberation Front, a Tuareg-led separatist movement. This alliance highlights a troubling trend of joint operations between jihadist groups and local separatists, reminiscent of the chaotic events of 2012 that led to the current security crisis in Mali.
The Malian military confirmed that “unidentified armed terrorist groups targeted certain locations and barracks” within Bamako, asserting that troops were actively engaged in repelling the attackers. Subsequent communications from the military indicated that the situation was under control, although reports from the ground painted a different picture.
Eyewitness Accounts of Chaos and Fear
Residents in the vicinity of Modibo Keïta International Airport reported hearing heavy automatic gunfire and explosions, with one local