Mali army says armed groups launch coordinated attacks across country

Coordinated assaults by armed groups have targeted multiple regions in Mali, with the capital Bamako among the affected areas, according to the country’s military. The forces reported ongoing combat as they work to repel the aggressors.

“Fighting is ongoing,” the military stated in a Saturday morning release, noting that “our defence and security forces are currently engaged in repelling the attackers.”

Witnesses recounted explosions and intense gunfire near the Kati military base, a key facility located outside Bamako, early Saturday. Authorities have deployed troops to seal off nearby roads, restricting movement in the area.

Additional incidents have been reported in Gao, a northern-eastern city, and Sevare, in central Mali. A local resident, returning from Ethiopia to Bamako, informed the BBC that all incoming flights to the city were halted shortly after dawn. The impact on the airport remains uncertain.

Context of the conflict

Mali is governed by a military junta led by General Assimi Goïta, who seized control in a 2020 coup. His administration pledged to restore stability and combat armed groups. The junta initially enjoyed public backing, promising to address the security crisis sparked by a Tuareg separatist movement in the north, which later shifted toward Islamist militants.

International efforts, including the UN peacekeeping mission and French forces, were launched in 2013 to quell the growing insurgency. Both have since withdrawn, with the military government now employing Russian mercenaries to tackle unrest. Despite these measures, the jihadist threat persists, leaving significant portions of the north and east beyond government control.

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