Co-ordinated Armed Attacks Shake Mali as Security Forces Respond Across Multiple Cities

Mali has been hit by a wave of coordinated attacks after explosions and sustained gunfire were reported in the capital, Bamako, as well as several northern and central regions of the country.

The military confirmed on Saturday that active fighting was underway, stating that defence and security forces were engaged in repelling attackers. Authorities described those behind the assaults as unidentified “terrorist groups” and said efforts were ongoing to restore full control.

Witnesses said that loud explosions and heavy gunfire were heard around Kati, which hosts one of Mali’s major military bases just outside the capital. Security forces reportedly deployed soldiers to seal off roads in the area and tighten movement restrictions.

Additional attacks were reported in the northern cities of Gao and Kidal, as well as Sévaré in the country’s central region. Analysts have described the violence as one of the largest coordinated militant offensives Mali has experienced in recent years.

The country has long faced instability from insurgent violence involving jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State, alongside separatist movements in the north.

Early reports suggest the separatist Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), which seeks an independent Tuareg state, may have concentrated its operations in northern cities. At the same time, the jihadist group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) is believed to have launched simultaneous strikes across several locations nationwide.

Although military officials said the situation was under control, unconfirmed reports indicate that clashes may still be continuing in some areas. While some residents described relative calm in parts of Bamako, others reported ongoing gunfire and heightened security presence.

Checkpoints were established on roads leading to Bamako’s international airport, with security personnel conducting vehicle searches. One resident returning from Ethiopia said flights into the city had been cancelled early on Saturday, though the full operational status of the airport remains unclear.

The UK Foreign Office has advised against all travel to Mali following the attacks and said Bamako International Airport had been temporarily closed.

Ulf Laessing, who leads the Sahel programme at the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Mali, described the incident as the largest coordinated jihadist assault the country has seen in years.

The United States Department of State’s Africa bureau strongly condemned the violence, offering condolences to victims and reaffirming support for the Malian government and its people. Meanwhile, the U.S. Embassy urged American citizens in the country to shelter in place and avoid travel due to security concerns around the airport and Kati.