Key facts
- Mali's army reported rebel attacks across the north, including in Gao and Sévaré.
- The Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) launched coordinated attacks.
- Rebels claimed control of several military bases and checkpoints, including in Tessalit and Hombori.
- Russia's African Corps denied claims of abandoning the Hombori base.
- Fighting occurred in and around the capital, Bamako, leading to a curfew and airport closure.
Mali's army reported Saturday that several towns across the north of the country, including the major cities of Gao and Sévaré, were targeted by rebel attacks. The statement came as the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a rebel group seeking the independence of northern Mali, announced a new offensive to capture the town of Anefis.
These developments follow coordinated assaults by the FLA and the al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) across the country. Reports indicate that rebel fighters have set up checkpoints around the capital, Bamako, and seized the town of Tessalit in the north. Videos verified by Reuters show armed fighters inside the Amachach base in Tessalit, raising the FLA flag, with the group claiming control after the withdrawal of Malian army and Russia's African Corps elements.
JNIM also claimed to have captured the Hombori base in central Mali and taken over two checkpoints near Bamako. However, Russia's African Corps stated that the claim about the abandonment of the Hombori base was untrue, reporting that their helicopters delivered ammunition to Malian military personnel there. Al Jazeera reported that four major military camps in the north are now in rebel hands, with Malian forces appearing not to engage.
Explosions and sustained gunfire were reported in Bamako, leading to a curfew and the temporary closure of Bamako International Airport. Fighting has also been reported in Kati, near the capital, as well as in Gao, Sévare, Mopti, and Kidal. The FLA has stated that the attacks were a joint operation with JNIM, planned for a long time, with the goal of controlling Gao and subsequently Timbuktu.