Clashes Erupt Across Mali

Mali's army confirmed on Saturday that it was involved in clashes with armed fighters who had attacked army barracks in the capital Bamako and other areas of the country, according to multiple reports. A military statement described the attackers as "terrorist groups, not yet identified" that had "targeted certain points and barracks in the capital and the interior," as reported by AFP.

Witnesses told AFP that gunfire rocked several districts of Bamako, including Kati, the town that houses the main military base and is home to military ruler General Assimi Goita. Fighting was also heard in Gao, the largest city in northern Mali, as well as in Sevare in the country's centre and in Kidal, according to reports from AFP and Reuters. An AP journalist in Bamako reported sustained heavy weapons and automatic rifle fire coming from the Modibo Keïta International Airport, approximately 15 kilometres from the city centre, and observed a helicopter patrolling over nearby neighbourhoods.

Reuters reported that soldiers had been deployed to block off roads around the affected areas. As of Saturday, no group had claimed responsibility for the attacks, and the cause of the explosions remained unclear, according to multiple outlets.

Background: A Decade of Jihadist Insurgency

Mali has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency for over a decade, battling West African affiliates of al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. Since 2012, jihadist groups affiliated with these organisations have fought security services, with community-based criminal groups and separatists also contributing to the tension, as reported by Africa News and France 24. Thousands of people have died in attacks, and tens of thousands of Malians have sought refuge in neighbouring countries, including Mauritania, in recent years.

Military leaders took power in Mali after coups in 2020 and 2021, vowing to restore security in a country where militants control large areas of the north and centre and frequently attack the army and civilians, according to Deutsche Welle and AllAfrica.

International Alliances Shift

The military government, like its counterparts in neighbouring Niger and Burkina Faso, has severed ties with former colonial ruler France and several Western countries to move closer politically and militarily to Russia, as reported by multiple outlets including France 24 and AllAfrica. Russia's Wagner Group, which had been fighting alongside Malian forces against jihadists since 2021, announced the end of its mission in June 2025 and has since become the Africa Corps, an organisation under the direct control of the Russian defence ministry, according to reports from Deutschlandwelle and RFI.

Meanwhile, the administration of US President Donald Trump has sought to establish contacts with Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, with Togo attempting to act as an intermediary. The US looks to revitalise relations with Mali, with an envoy visit to Bamako, according to Africa News and AllAfrica.

Domestic Crackdown and Unrest

Malian authorities have cracked down on critics and dissolved political parties, as reported by AllAfrica and RFI. 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 that could be renewed "as many times as necessary" without holding elections, according to Deutsche Welle and AllAfrica.

Since September, an al-Qaeda affiliate known by its Arab acronym JNIM has been attacking fuel tanker convoys, bringing the capital Bamako to a standstill at the height of the crisis, as reported by France 24 and AllAfrica.

Perspectives

  • Malian Military: The army asserts it is responding to attacks by unidentified "terrorist" groups on military positions, framing the clashes as part of ongoing security operations.
  • International Observers: Reports from AFP, Reuters, and AP highlight the severity of the attacks and the broader context of a decade-long insurgency, while noting the shifting alliances from Western powers to Russia.
  • Local Population: Eyewitness accounts describe sustained gunfire and explosions in residential areas, with soldiers deployed to block roads, underscoring the impact on civilians.
  • Analysts: Some reports suggest the attacks may be linked to jihadist groups, particularly JNIM, which has previously targeted the capital, though no group has yet claimed responsibility.