Coordinated Assaults Shake Mali's Major Cities and Airport

In a series of well-coordinated attacks early Saturday, gunmen targeted multiple cities in Mali, including the capital, Bamako. Reports of intense gunfire and explosions have emerged as security forces swiftly engaged the attackers.

The Malian army has confirmed the assault by unknown armed groups on crucial sites, particularly near military barracks and significant locales in Bamako. Among the most affected sites was Modibo Keita International Airport, where both locals and journalists recounted persistent gunfire along with aircraft activity. This airport is adjacent to a military air base.

Security personnel reported immediate deployment of army troops to repel the attackers and restore order.

Violence was also confirmed in other regions. The town of Kati, close to Bamako and home to Mali’s primary military base, witnessed heavy gunfire and explosions early in the day.

In the northeastern cities of Kidal and Gao, residents reported violent clashes alongside gunfire and explosions. A former mayor from Kidal indicated that armed groups had invaded certain parts of the city, engaging in gun battles with government forces. In Gao, the force of explosions alarmed residents and made buildings tremble.

A spokesperson for the Azawad Liberation Front claimed on social media that their members had seized control of several areas in Kidal and Gao, although this claim remains unverified by independent sources.

The United States Embassy in Bamako issued a security warning, acknowledging reports of gunfire and explosions near Kati and the airport, advising American nationals to stay indoors and limit movement until further notice.

Mali has been grappling with prolonged violence attributed to armed factions associated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State, alongside a separatist movement in the north. Security conditions in Mali and neighboring nations like Burkina Faso and Niger have deteriorated significantly in recent years despite international efforts.