Armed groups target military positions across Mali in coordinated assault
The Malian military junta reports attacks on key infrastructure on Saturday, underscoring persistent security challenges under General Assimi Goïta's indefinite rule
Armed groups, which the Malian army identifies as terrorist organisations affiliated with jihadist networks, launched coordinated attacks on military positions across several districts on Saturday. The violence targeted critical infrastructure including the Modibo Keïta International Airport in the capital, Bamako, as well as the cities of Kati, Gao, and Sevare.
Witnesses and journalists confirmed the intensity of the assault, with reports of sustained heavy weapons and automatic rifle fire echoing through the affected areas. An Associated Press reporter in Bamako heard the gunfire emanating from the airport, located approximately 15 kilometres from the city centre, and observed a helicopter patrolling over nearby neighbourhoods. Residents also reported hearing the exchange of fire in Kati, the home of military ruler General Assimi Goïta, as well as in Gao and Sevare.
These incidents occur against a backdrop of a decade-long security crisis involving groups linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, alongside criminal elements and separatists. The Malian military junta, which has governed the country since coups in 2020 and 2021, stated that the attackers are affiliated with jihadist groups, though independent verification of the specific identities remains pending.
The attacks highlight the ongoing fragility of the security situation despite previous periods of relative calm. While jihadist groups such as JNIM have recently focused on disrupting fuel logistics by attacking tanker convoys, this Saturday's offensive appears to have shifted focus directly to military installations and strategic locations.
The political context of the conflict remains entrenched, with the junta having dissolved political parties and extended General Goïta's term indefinitely in July 2025, bypassing earlier pledges to return power to civilians. This consolidation of authority has taken place as the nation continues to sever ties with former colonial ruler France and several Western nations in favour of closer alignment with Russia.
Russia's military footprint in the region has also evolved recently, with the Wagner Group ending its mission in June 2025 and transitioning to the Africa Corps under the direct control of the Russian defence ministry. As the junta faces renewed violence from armed groups, the stability of its rule and the security of the region remain subjects of intense scrutiny.
