A large-scale and meticulously planned attack by Al-Qaeda militants and Tuareg rebels has shaken Mali. The city of Kidal has been captured, and the capital's airport has been struck, raising serious concerns and calls for immediate shelter.
The group "Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin" (JNIM) has claimed responsibility for these audacious attacks.
They reported powerful strikes on the capital's airport as well as on cities in the north of the country – Mopti, Sevare, and Gao.
The city of Kidal has now been declared "captured" as a result of a joint operation by JNIM and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA).
Tuareg rebels also announced full control over positions in Gao, heightening tensions.
In Kati, where the main military base is located, explosions destroyed the home of Mali's Minister of Defense. Foreign embassies, including those of the USA and the UK, promptly urged their citizens to seek immediate shelter.
The first explosions occurred around six in the morning near the main military base in Kati, and gunfire continued there for more than four hours.
Ulf Lessing, head of the Sahel program at the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation, commented on the situation to the agency: "This appears to be the largest coordinated attack in recent years."
Analysts note that the choice of targets was surprisingly precise and strategically significant. Kati and Bamako represent the political heart of the country, while the city of Kidal was a symbol of the army's victory in 2023.
Mali's military command is trying to reassure the population by claiming the destruction of "hundreds of attackers." A large-scale territorial cleanup has begun in the capital and gold-producing regions of the country.
As of Saturday afternoon, the army claimed that the situation was under full control. However, residents of Gao reported powerful explosions after this statement, raising doubts about the official version.
A nighttime curfew has been imposed in the city of Gao, indicating ongoing instability.
Reuters notes that the current government led by Assimi Goita came to power through coups, promising peace and stability.
Instead, the security situation is only worsening, which is causing such strong resistance.
