Jihadist Attack Hits Mali`s Bamako Amid Ongoing Conflict

An al-Qaeda-linked group, Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), has claimed responsibility for an early morning attack in Bamako, the capital of Mali. Armed men targeted a military training school and other key locations in the city, with authorities blaming “a group of terrorists” for the assault. JNIM stated that the operation inflicted significant human and material losses on the military. This attack marks the first of its kind in years to hit Bamako, a city that had largely escaped the Islamist insurgency that has gripped Mali for over a decade. JNIM, one of the most active militant groups in the Sahel region, has been responsible for numerous attacks across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The group claimed that Tuesday’s “special operation” struck both the military training center and Bamako's military airport, resulting in casualties among Mali’s security forces.

While the Malian government did not initially confirm any losses, local security sources reported multiple fatalities and injuries, with several ambulances seen transporting troops to hospitals. The government later issued a statement saying the situation was “under control,” encouraging residents to continue with their daily activities. By early afternoon, there were further reports of heavy gunfire near a police station close to Bamako’s civilian airport terminal. At the same time, JNIM claimed to have taken control of the nearby military airport, though this has not been independently verified.

Mali's state television broadcast footage of roughly 20 blindfolded prisoners and reported that “terrorists had been neutralized.” The army's chief-of-staff, Oumar Diarra, confirmed that a sweep of the area was ongoing. This attack comes in the context of Mali's broader struggle with jihadist insurgencies. Since a coup in 2021, the military junta has expelled French troops and UN peacekeepers, opting for support from Russia's Wagner group to combat the militants. However, the insurgency shows no signs of abating.