A wave of coordinated attacks struck Mali's capital, Bamako, and several other cities on Saturday, April 25, marking one of the largest and most complex military assaults the West African nation has seen in years. Gunfire and explosions rocked the capital and the garrison town of Kati, while attacks also targeted key northern cities including Kidal and Gao.
The al-Qaida-linked militant group JNIM and the Tuareg-led separatist Azawad Liberation Front claimed responsibility for the joint operation. The assaults targeted strategic locations, including Bamako’s international airport and various military positions. JNIM claimed to have seized two key cities and destroyed the defense minister's residence as part of the offensive.
In a major blow to the ruling junta, Mali’s Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed during the attacks. Camara was targeted at his residence at the Kati military base outside the capital, which came under assault amid the simultaneous strikes across the country.
The Malian army stated that it had killed several hundred assailants during the fighting. While government forces and their Russian ally regained control of Bamako by Saturday evening, clashes continued in the northern city of Kidal on Sunday. The events represent a significant escalation in the ongoing hostilities between the military-led government and insurgent groups.