Bamako: In a dramatic turn of events, militants staged attacks in the capital of Bamako and in several other areas of the country on Saturday morning, the country’s army has said. Two loud explosions and sustained gunfire were heard in the morning near Mali’s main military base Kati.
According to reports published by Reuters, there was similar unrest in several parts of the country at the same time. “There’s gunfire everywhere,” a witness said as per the agency. The country is reportedly battling insurgencies by al-Qaeda and the Islamic State in the country.
Mali Army issues statement
“Unidentified armed terrorist groups targeted certain locations and barracks in the capital.” It added that soldiers were “currently engaged in eliminating the attackers,” the Mali army said in a statement on Sunday.
It may be noted that even as the country’s military leaders took power in their hands after coups in 2020 and 2021, promising to restore security in Mali, militants continue to stage attacks on the army and civilians frequently.
Taking to social media, Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), said that his forces took control in various parts of Kidal and Gao. As per the report, regional Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), a regional al-Qaeda affiliate, was also involved in attacks.
Reports of gunfire near a military camp
There have been reports of gunfire near a military camp near Bamako’s airport. “We hear gunfire towards the military camp. It’s not the airport itself, but the camp that secures the airport,” a resident said.
Importantly, in recent times, the government led by Assimi Goita is reported to have leaned on Russian mercenaries for security, even as it ssssss defence cooperation with Western nations. In March, there were reports that Mali and the US were entering an agreement that would allow Washington to resume flying aircraft and drones over Mali to collect information on jihadist groups