Suspected armed groups launched coordinated attacks across Mali early Saturday, targeting the capital Bamako and multiple cities, residents and officials said, amid a worsening security crisis in the West African nation. Mali’s military confirmed the assaults, saying in a statement that “unidentified armed terrorist groups targeted certain locations and barracks in the capital.” It added that security forces were “currently engaged in eliminating the attackers.”
Heavy gunfire and explosions were reported in Bamako, particularly around Modibo Keita International Airport, located about 15 kilometers (9 miles) from the city center. An Associated Press journalist heard sustained bursts of automatic weapons and heavier arms, while helicopters circled overhead. The airport shares grounds with an air base used by the Malian air force.
Residents living near the airport described a tense situation, with one reporting gunfire and at least three helicopters patrolling the area.
Similar scenes unfolded in other parts of the country, suggesting a coordinated offensive. In the northeastern city of Kidal, gunmen entered and took control of several neighborhoods, triggering clashes with government forces, according to a former mayor who spoke on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns.
Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for the Azawad Liberation Front, claimed on Facebook that its fighters had seized areas in Kidal and Gao. The claims could not be independently verified.
In Gao, residents reported ongoing gunfire and explosions that began early Saturday. “The force of the explosions is making the doors and windows of my house shake. I'm scared out of my wits,” one resident told AP, requesting anonymity for security reasons. The individual said the sounds appeared to originate from an army camp and a nearby airport.
Gunfire and blasts were also reported in Kati, a town near Bamako that hosts a major military base.
Mali has faced years of instability driven by insurgencies linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group, along with a separatist movement in the north. Violence has intensified across the Sahel region, including neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso, despite shifting alliances and increased military efforts to curb militant activity.
Arpita Ghosh (She/Her) is an Assistant Editor at Times Now Digital, with over eight years of experience in digital journalism. She has worked across v...View More
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