Militants and separatists launch coordinated attacks across Mali

Islamic militants and separatist groups launched a series of coordinated attacks across Mali, targeting military bases and key locations in the capital, Bamako, and several other cities. The al-Qaida-linked group Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) claimed responsibility for the strikes on Bamako’s international airport and four other cities in central and northern Mali, stating the operations were conducted jointly with the Azawad Liberation Front, a Tuareg-led separatist faction. The Malian army confirmed that unidentified armed groups attacked multiple sites, including barracks in Bamako, but later declared the situation under control. The attacks involved heavy gunfire and the use of helicopters, particularly around Modibo Keïta International Airport, which is adjacent to a military airbase. Residents near the airport and in the town of Kati, home to Mali’s main military base and the residence of military junta leader Gen Assimi Goita, reported sustained gunfire and militant convoys moving through deserted streets. The residence of Mali’s defense minister, Sadio Camara, was reportedly heavily damaged during the violence. The US embassy in Bamako issued a security alert advising American citizens to shelter in place due to explosions and gunfire near the airport and Kati. Additional attacks were reported in the central towns of Sévaré and Mopti, as well as in the northern cities of Kidal and Gao. Insurgents reportedly took control of some neighborhoods in Kidal, leading to clashes with Malian forces. The Azawad Liberation Front claimed control over parts of Kidal and Gao, though independent verification of these claims was not immediately available. Kidal has historically been a separatist stronghold and a focal point of conflict in Mali’s ongoing insurgency. These attacks underscore the persistent instability in Mali, where jihadist insurgencies linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State, alongside separatist rebellions, have challenged state authority for over a decade. The coordinated nature and scale of the strikes highlight the continuing security challenges faced by the Malian government and its international partners in combating militant groups and maintaining territorial control.