The Malian army engaged in fierce combat on Saturday against what it described as "terrorist groups" that launched a series of surprise attacks around the capital Bamako and other regions of the West African nation. Witnesses reported heavy fighting near the capital, particularly in the town of Kati, where junta leader General Assimi Goita resides, as well as in key cities across the country, which has been plagued by over a decade of jihadist conflict.
Tuareg Rebels Claim Control of Kidal
The Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition announced they had seized the northern city of Kidal. The claim could not be independently verified by AFP. The Malian junta, which came to power through coups in 2020 and 2021, has designated the FLA as a "terrorist" group.
In a statement, the Malian army said: "Terrorist groups, not yet identified, early this morning targeted certain points and barracks in the capital and the interior of the country. We call on the population to be vigilant. Our defense and security forces are engaged in annihilating the attackers."
Fighting Across Multiple Locations
Clashes were reported around Bamako, Gao, Kidal in the north, and the central city of Sevare. Heavy gunfire was heard in Kati, a suburb of Bamako where Goita has his residence. A resident reported that jihadists had taken over a military camp in the Samakébougou neighborhood of Kati, leading to intense fighting. The whereabouts of the junta chief remained unknown.
There was also significant concern over Defense Minister General Sadio Camara after residents reported a powerful blast that destroyed most of his home in Kati. Camara's entourage insisted he was not present at the time and was "safe." Helicopters were seen hovering over Bamako and near the international airport, where fighting was reported around a military base. The streets of the capital were deserted amid sporadic gunfire, according to an AFP correspondent.
FLA Statement on Kidal
The Tuareg FLA declared on Facebook: "The city of Kidal has come under the control of our armed forces." FLA spokesman Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane told AFP: "Our FLA troops control Kidal, most of Kidal. The governor of Kidal has taken refuge with his men in the former camp of MINUSMA," referring to the former UN mission in Mali. He also posted a photo on Facebook showing a military camp in Kidal that he claimed had been occupied by "Russian mercenaries" and the Malian army.
Background of Conflict
Mali's junta is engaged in struggles with both the FLA and jihadist groups. Observers note that the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist group, has recently sought to join forces with the FLA. Russia's mercenary Wagner Group, which had been fighting alongside Malian forces against jihadists since 2021, ended its involvement in June 2025 and has since become the Africa Corps, under the direct control of the Russian defense ministry.
Since September, JNIM has been attacking fuel tanker convoys heading for the capital, bringing Bamako to a standstill in October. Despite several months of calm, Bamako residents faced a diesel shortage in March, with fuel prioritized for the energy sector.
Political and Economic Context
Mali possesses resources including gold and other valuable minerals. However, since 2012, it has been grappling with a security crisis involving attacks by jihadist groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and Daesh, as well as community-based criminal groups and separatists. The military used the crisis to justify its takeover. The government, like its counterparts in neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso, has severed ties with former colonial ruler France and several Western countries, moving closer politically and militarily to Russia. It has also been criticized for restricting media and silencing opposition activists.
Goita's administration has banned political parties. The junta had pledged to hand over power to civilians by March 2024, but in July 2025, it granted Goita a five-year presidential term, renewable "as many times as necessary" without an election. The US administration under President Donald Trump has sought to establish contacts with the three juntas, while Togo has acted as an intermediary between Western nations and the three countries, which have formed their own Alliance of Sahel States.
Thousands of people have died in attacks in Mali since the jihadist turmoil erupted, and tens of thousands of Malians have sought refuge in neighboring countries, including Mauritania, in recent years.
