Mali attacks hit Bamako and other locations – Pakistan Today
Militants attacked Bamako and several other locations in Mali on Saturday, with fighting reported near key military positions. The army said operations were ongoing and urged the public to remain calm.
BAMAKO: Militants carried out attacks in Mali’s capital Bamako and at several other locations across the country on Saturday morning, according to the Malian army, in what appeared to be a coordinated assault involving multiple groups.
Shortly before 6am local time, two loud explosions and prolonged gunfire were heard near Kati, Mali’s main military base outside Bamako, according to a Reuters witness. Soldiers were later deployed to seal roads in the area.
At around the same time, unrest was also reported in the central town of Sevare as well as in Kidal and the city of Gao in northern Mali. A witness in Sevare said “There’s gunfire everywhere”.
In a statement, Mali’s army said unidentified terrorist groups had attacked several positions in the capital and elsewhere in the country, though it did not specify the exact locations. The army said fighting was continuing and urged residents to remain calm.
Mali has been facing insurgencies led by the West African branches of al Qaeda and Daesh. The country is also dealing with a much longer history of Tuareg-led rebellion in the north.
Claims and security assessments
Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for the Azawad Liberation Front, a Tuareg-dominated rebel alliance, said on social media that its forces had taken control of multiple positions in Kidal and Gao. Reuters said it could not independently verify that claim.
Four security sources said the regional al Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, or JNIM, was also involved in Saturday’s attacks.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility from JNIM, which frequently attacks military installations across much of Mali, or from Daesh in the Sahel Province.
A government spokesperson and a spokesperson for Mali’s army did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Gunfire reported near airport camp
Gunfire was also heard early on Saturday near a military camp close to Bamako’s airport that houses Russian mercenary forces, a resident said.
The resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for safety reasons, said “We hear gunfire towards the military camp. It’s not the airport itself, but the camp that secures the airport”, clarifying where the firing was taking place.
Mali’s military rulers came to power after coups in 2020 and 2021, promising to restore security, but militant groups have continued to carry out frequent attacks on both the army and civilians.
The government led by Assimi Goita has relied on Russian mercenaries for security support while initially turning away from defence cooperation with Western countries. More recently, it has moved toward closer ties with the United States.
Reuters reported in March that Mali and the US were nearing an agreement that would allow Washington to resume flights of aircraft and drones over Malian airspace to collect intelligence on insurgent groups.
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