Armed groups launch coordinated attacks across Mali

Gunfire and explosions were reported in Bamako, Mali’s capital, as multiple armed factions executed a synchronized assault throughout the nation over the weekend. The military confirmed on Saturday evening that countermeasures were underway, with some fighters already withdrawing. Tensions also flared in Kati, a region housing a key military installation outside the capital, and in Gao, alongside the central towns of Sevare and Mopti. On Sunday, renewed gunfire was observed in Kidal, a northern city, according to local accounts.

For years, Mali has endured insurgent activity linked to al-Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates, alongside a separatist campaign in the northern territories. Reports indicate the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), which advocates for a Tuareg state, focused its assault on northern urban centers. Simultaneously, the jihadist group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) targeted multiple locations across the country. An expert noted this as the most significant jihadist strike in recent memory.

“We had been working on this operation for a long time, in a well-planned manner, and in fact, in alliance with [JNIM],” stated Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, FLA spokesperson, in an interview with the BBC. “It is difficult to find any solution without their participation, and there was coordination.”

JNIM corroborated the attacks as part of a joint operation with the FLA, according to a statement. The Malian military claimed it was battling “terrorist groups,” asserting that they had been “routed” with “several hundred” casualties. However, the BBC has yet to independently confirm this figure, and ongoing hostilities in certain areas remain evident.

Speaking to the BBC, Ramadane emphasized that Kidal had not fully fallen, noting the presence of Malian troops and Russian mercenaries there. He mentioned that all of Gao’s entry points had been captured, though military strongholds remained intact. Earlier, he shared unverified video footage allegedly showing militants seizing a camp in Kidal and a helicopter downed near Gao.

A FLA field commander revealed preparations for the offensive had taken months, aiming to disrupt the route between Kidal and Tessalit to halt reinforcements. “Our main goal now is to control Gao, after which Timbuktu will be easy to fall,” he said. On Sunday, AFP reported that clashes in Kidal continued to “drive out the last Russian fighters,” with local officials confirming ongoing conflict between the military, rebels, and Russian forces.

Authorities in Bamako have set up checkpoints near the airport and are inspecting vehicles. A 21:00 to 06:00 curfew is now in effect for three nights. The UK Foreign Office urged travelers to avoid Mali, citing the attacks, and noted the temporary closure of Bamako International Airport. Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, described the incident as the “largest co-ordinated jihadist attack on Mali for years.”

International leaders also condemned the violence. African Union Commission chair Mahmoud Ali Youssouf expressed “deep concern” and “strongly condemned these acts which risk exposing civilian populations to significant harm.” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres echoed the criticism, calling for “coordinated international support to address the evolving threat of violent extremism and terrorism in the Sahel” and to aid “urgent humanitarian needs.” The U.S. State Department’s Africa bureau similarly denounced the attacks, offering condolences to victims and pledging solidarity with Mali’s people and government.

The FLA has long pursued its goal of establishing an autonomous Tuareg homeland in northern Mali, where it holds effective control. The country is currently under the rule of a military junta led by General Assimi Goïta, who first assumed power in a coup in 2020.