Malian Military Confirms Coordinated Attacks in Bamako, Kati, Gao, and Sevare
The Malian military confirmed on Saturday that armed groups have launched coordinated attacks across the country, affecting Bamako, the capital, alongside Gao in the east and Sevare in central Mali. A statement from the military indicated that “fighting is ongoing” as defence and security forces work to repel the assailants.
Witnesses reported explosions and sustained gunfire in the early hours around the Kati military base, a significant installation just outside Bamako. Roads in the area have been sealed off by soldiers. Separately, the US Embassy in Mali issued an advisory for its citizens to shelter in place, citing gunfire and explosions near the Modibo Keita International Airport in Bamako and around Kati.
The identity of the groups behind these synchronised assaults remains unclear. The current military junta, led by General Assimi Goïta, seized power in a 2020 coup, pledging to stabilise the nation against a separatist rebellion that was subsequently co-opted by Islamist militants. Despite initial popular support, the insurgency has persisted.
The UN peacekeeping mission and French forces, deployed in 2013 to counter the insurgency, have both withdrawn from Mali since the junta assumed control. The military government has subsequently engaged Russian mercenaries to address the ongoing security crisis. However, substantial areas in the north and east of the country continue to operate outside effective government oversight.
