Mali's military government reported that armed "terrorist groups" launched coordinated attacks on multiple military positions across the country on Saturday, triggering intense fighting in several regions. Gunfire erupted near Modibo Keïta International Airport in the capital, Bamako, with an Associated Press journalist hearing sustained heavy weapons and automatic rifle fire, while a helicopter was seen patrolling nearby areas. Witnesses and a security source confirmed exchanges of fire in Kati, home to military ruler General Assimi Goita, as well as in the northern city of Gao and central town of Sevare. The attacks come amid a prolonged security crisis that has gripped Mali since 2012, driven by jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, as well as separatist and criminal factions. The military, which seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, has since cut ties with France and several Western nations, aligning more closely with Russia. Russia's Wagner Group, which supported Malian forces against insurgents from 2021, officially ended its mission in June 2025 and transitioned into the Africa Corps, now under direct control of the Russian defence ministry. The junta has suppressed political dissent, dissolving parties and silencing critics, while reneging on earlier promises to restore civilian rule. Instead of holding elections, it granted General Assimi Goita a five-year presidential term in July 2025, allowing indefinite re-election without a vote. Since September, the al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) has targeted fuel tanker convoys, causing severe diesel shortages in Bamako, most notably during a crisis peak in October. Despite a period of relative calm, Bamako residents again faced fuel scarcity in March, with diesel prioritized for the energy sector.
General Assimi Goita's consolidation of power through a self-awarded five-year term undermines the junta's claim that military rule is a temporary fix to a security crisis. The continued attacks by JNIM despite years of military control and foreign intervention expose the failure of authoritarian measures to deliver stability. If fuel blockades can paralyze the capital, the state's grip on basic logistics appears as fragile as its promise of democratic transition. Security alliances with foreign forces like the Africa Corps have not prevented persistent insurgent reach into Mali's core infrastructure.
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