The military government in Mali says armed groups carried out synchronized attacks across several locations, including the capital, Bamako.
The army reported early Saturday that suspected militants struck key positions, notably the main barracks, triggering heavy gunfire and explosions in Bamako and nearby Kati, where leader Assimi Goïta is based after seizing power from Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta in 2020. Authorities urged residents to stay calm as security forces responded, with no claim of responsibility so far.
The country continues to face persistent insurgency from groups linked to Al-Qaeda and Islamic State, alongside a long-standing northern rebellion.
Since taking power, the junta has distanced itself from France and strengthened ties with Russia, including cooperation with the Wagner Group, now reorganized as the Africa Corps.
Despite pledges to restore civilian rule, political restrictions have tightened, and Goïta now holds a renewable five-year mandate without elections, as insecurity and supply disruptions persist.
