Explosions and gunfire erupted across Mali’s capital, Bamako, as well as in several other regions on Saturday, marking one of the most significant waves of violence the country has seen in recent years. Armed factions have initiated what appears to be a coordinated assault, prompting the military to engage in active combat to repel the attackers. The situation remains fluid, with reports of ongoing skirmishes and heightened security measures across the capital and beyond.
Coordinated Assaults Across Multiple Regions
The Malian military reported that “fighting is ongoing” and assured citizens that its defence and security forces are engaged in efforts to counter the assailants. Witnesses have described a chaotic scene near the Kati military base, a vital installation located just outside Bamako, where loud explosions and gunfire have been notably intense. In addition to Bamako, incidents of violence have been reported in the northern towns of Gao and Kidal, as well as in Sevare in central Mali. Analysts suggest that these attacks represent the largest coordinated jihadist offensive in the country in years.
One resident travelling back to Bamako from Ethiopia reported that all flights into the city were cancelled early Saturday morning. While it is unclear whether the airport itself has been directly affected, the UK Foreign Office has issued a travel advisory against all trips to Mali, citing the closure of Bamako International Airport in response to the violence. Meanwhile, the US Embassy has warned its citizens to stay indoors and avoid any travel, referencing the dangerous situation unfolding around the airport and Kati.
Security Measures and Public Response
Despite some reports indicating relative calm in certain areas of Bamako, gunfire persists in various districts, leading to the establishment of checkpoints throughout the capital. Vehicles are subject to searches, and the military is taking proactive measures to secure the roads leading to the airport. According to Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel Programme at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, the scale of the attacks indicates a significant escalation in jihadist activity within Mali.
The military has attributed the violence to unidentified “terrorist groups” and maintains that the situation is under their control. However, unverified reports and social media videos suggest involvement from the jihadist group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Tuareg Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) rebels. The FLA has claimed responsibility for taking several strategic positions in Gao and Kidal while urging neighbouring countries, including Burkina Faso and Niger, to refrain from intervening. These claims remain unverified.
The Broader Context of Mali’s Security Crisis
Mali has been under the rule of a military junta since a coup in 2020 led by General Assimi Goïta. Initially, the junta garnered public support by pledging to restore security and combat the armed groups that have long plagued the nation, particularly following a separatist uprising by ethnic Tuaregs that spiralled into a broader jihadist insurg
