An al-Qaeda-linked group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for a morning attack in Bamako, the capital of Mali. Armed men targeted a military training school and other key areas near the city’s airport, prompting gunfire early on Tuesday. The Malian army described the attackers as “terrorists,” but confirmed that the situation is now “under control.”
JNIM, one of the most active militant groups in the Sahel, stated that their “special operation” caused significant human and material damage. The group has been involved in an Islamist insurgency in Mali for over a decade, extending its attacks to neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.
The army revealed that the Faladie gendarmerie school was one of several sensitive locations targeted in the coordinated assault. Although no official casualty figures have been released, two security personnel were reportedly wounded in the attack, according to AFP.
While the Malian security ministry has reassured residents that daily life can resume, international organisations like the UN have advised staff to restrict their movement. Social media videos showed smoke rising from parts of the city, and Bamako’s Modibo Keita International Airport has been closed in the aftermath.
Mali’s military government, which came to power following a 2021 coup, has been grappling with the ongoing insurgency. After expelling French troops and UN peacekeepers, the government enlisted Russia’s Wagner group for assistance, but the violence persists with no clear end in sight.
Melissa Enoch
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