Militants have staged coordinated attacks in Mali’s capital, Bamako, and several locations across the country, the army said on Saturday (25 April), in an assault apparently involving jihadist and Tuareg-led groups.
Explosions and gunfire were heard shortly before 06:00 GMT near a major military base in Bamako, with soldiers blocking roads in the area.
There were similar incidents at around the same time in the central town of Sévaré, and in the northern locations of Kidal and Gao.
“There’s gunfire everywhere,” a witness in Sévaré said.
Mali’s army said “terrorist” groups had attacked several positions in the capital and elsewhere, without giving further details. It added that fighting was ongoing and urged people to remain calm.
Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a Tuareg-dominated rebel alliance, said on social media that its forces had taken control of multiple positions in Kidal and Gao.
Four security sources said the regional al-Qaeda affiliate Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) was involved in Saturday’s attacks.
There was no immediate claim of responsibility from JNIM, which frequently targets military installations across Mali, or from Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP).
Mali has faced persistent instability since soldiers led by Assimi Goïta toppled former president Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in 2020, following mass protests over corruption and the government’s handling of the insurgency.
Goïta later removed civilian leaders and assumed the presidency after a second coup in 2021, after which relations with former colonial power France deteriorated sharply.
France, which had led counter-terrorism operations in Mali, withdrew its troops in 2022. Since then, Mali has relied on Russian mercenaries for security operations.
Despite this, jihadist groups, including affiliates of al-Qaeda and Islamic State, have expanded their presence across the country.
Mali is also dealing with a long-running Tuareg-led rebellion in the north, where separatist groups seek independence for the region of Azawad, citing political and economic marginalisation.
Mali’s Defence Minister Sadio Camara died after sustaining injuries in an attack on his residence in Kati, near Bamako, according to a government statement delivered by spokesperson Issa Ousmane Coulibaly.
Authorities said a vehicle carrying explosives, driven by a suicide attacker, struck the residence, followed by an exchange of gunfire. Camara was taken to hospital, where he later died. The government declared two days of national mourning.
The incident occurred amid coordinated attacks across several locations in Mali, reportedly carried out by Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin in cooperation with a Tuareg-led rebel group.
No official casualty figures have been released, though the government extended condolences to civilian and military victims. Analysts and diplomats described the operation as one of the largest of its kind in recent years.
The United Nations stated that the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the attacks and expressed concern over the security situation in the Sahel region.
Israeli airstrikes killed at least seven Palestinians in Gaza on Friday (15 May), including a child, as Israel said it had launched an operation ta...
The Trump administration plans to announce criminal charges against former Cuban president...
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington could destroy Iran’s infrastructure “in two days,” while Tehran warned the U.S. would...
Azerbaijani President met with UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach in Baku on 16 May ahead of the 13th Session of the World Ur...
Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 45-day extension of a ceasefire that has reduced fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The...
Malian authorities have launched an investigation into suspected soldiers accused of involvement in coordinated attacks on military bases carried out by militants linked to al Qaeda and separatist Tuareg rebels on 25 April 2026.
Mali’s military leader, Assimi Goita, has said the situation is “under control” in his first public remarks since a wave of coordinated attacks shook the country last weekend.
Mali’s foreign minister has rejected claims that jihadists could soon capture the capital, calling them unrealistic. It was the government’s first detailed response to growing security concerns that prompted Western nations to advise their citizens to leave the country.
Turkish defence giant Baykar showcased its Bayraktar TB2, Akinci, TB3, and Kizilelma models at the BAMEX’25 expo in Bamako, Mali. The company provides advanced national unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to African countries, contributing to security and stability across the continent.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has “no trust” in the United States and will only consider negotiations if Washington shows seriousness. His remarks came as talks on Iran’s nuclear programme continued, with Trump and Xi also opposing Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was fighting for his political survival on Thursday (14 May) after Health Secretary Wes Streeting resigned, saying he had “lost confidence” in Starmer’s leadership.
Türkiye has issued 20,000 work visas to Afghan citizens for jobs in the livestock sector, the Turkish Embassy’s chargé d’affaires in Kabul said during talks with Afghanistan’s refugee minister on Wednesday.
The second semi-final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest 2026 takes place tonight in a rain-soaked Vienna, with the final 10 places in Saturday’s grand final still up for grabs.
Foreign ministers from the expanded BRICS bloc gathered in New Delhi on Thursday (14 May) for a crucial two-day meeting overshadowed by the ongoing Iran war, internal tensions within the grouping and mounting fears over global energy supplies.
China has launched the world’s first experiment to study how artificial human embryos develop in space, marking a major step in understanding whether humans could one day reproduce beyond Earth.
Every day, an elderly woman in China’s Shandong province looks forward to a video call from her son. He asks about her health, tells her he has been busy with work, and promises he will come home once he has saved enough money. She tells him she misses him. He tells her to take care of herself.
The Trump administration plans to announce criminal charges against former Cuban president Raul Castro next Wednesday, according to a U.S. Justice Department official, in a move that would escalate the pressure campaign against the island's communist government.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, second in command of ISIS globally, was killed in an operation conducted by U.S. and Nigerian forces.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for the 16th of May, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment