Two loud explosions and sustained gunfire were heard shortly before 6am near Mali’s main military base Kati outside the capital Bamako, and soldiers were deployed to block off roads in the area, a witness said.
There was similar unrest at around the same time in the central town of Sevare and the town of Kidal and city of Gao in northern Mali. “There’s gunfire everywhere,” a witness in Sevare said.
Mali is battling insurgencies by the West Africa affiliates of al-Qaeda and Islamic State. It is also grappling with a much longer history of Tuareg-led rebellion in the north.
Mali’s army said in a statement that unidentified “terrorist” groups attacked several positions in the capital and elsewhere in the country, without specifying locations. It said fighting was ongoing and asked the population to remain calm.
Mali’s military leaders took power after coups in 2020 and 2021, vowing to restore security, but militants continue to stage frequent attacks on the army and civilians.
Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesman for the Azawad Liberation Front, a Tuareg-dominated rebel alliance, said on social media 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 was also involved in Saturday’s attacks.
Gunfire could also be heard early on Saturday near a military camp close to Bamako’s airport that houses Russian mercenary forces, a resident said.
“We hear gunfire towards the military camp. It’s not the airport itself, but the camp that secures the airport,” said the resident.
The government led by Assimi Goita has leaned on Russian mercenaries for security support while initially spurning defence co-operation with Western countries. (Reuters)
