A tense situation unfolded in Bamako, Mali, on Tuesday morning, as gunmen launched an assault on a military police base. The attack, which began around 5:00 am local time, involved volleys of gunfire interspersed with explosions. Black smoke could be seen rising from the area near the airport, which was subsequently closed due to the unfolding events.
Witnesses described the scene, with one individual reporting being trapped in a mosque during morning prayers due to the attack. The French high school Liberte announced it would remain closed “due to external events” and the United Nations mission in Mali advised staff to “limit (their) movements until further notice”.
This attack comes against the backdrop of significant instability in Mali. Since back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021, the country has been ruled by a military junta. Various armed groups, including separatists and jihadists affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group, are active throughout Mali, although the capital has largely been spared until now.
The instability in Mali extends beyond its borders. Military juntas have also seized power in neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger. The Malian junta, led by Colonel Assimi Goita, has severed ties with European partners and former colonial power France, instead turning to Russia and its Wagner mercenary group for support. The military leaders have vowed to regain control of the entire country, and their offensive against rebels in the north has raised concerns of human rights abuses against civilians, allegations which the army and its Russian allies deny.
The attack on the military police base in Bamako raises significant concerns about the ongoing security situation in the country. The events will undoubtedly be closely watched by both regional and international actors as they seek to understand the implications for stability in Mali and the broader Sahel region.
