Gunmen launched an early morning assault on a military police base in Bamako, the capital of Mali, on Tuesday. Gunfire and explosions echoed through the area, prompting authorities to shut down the airport, according to sources, witnesses, and reports from AFP.
“Around 5:00 am, armed men attacked a military police base in Bamako, though their identities have not yet been confirmed,” a police source shared under the condition of anonymity.
Witnesses reported hearing bursts of gunfire and explosions, while black smoke billowed near the airport. In response, an airport official confirmed that Bamako’s airport had been temporarily closed, though no timeline for reopening was provided.
One worshipper, trapped in a mosque nearby during morning prayers, shared that they had to remain inside for safety. Additionally, the French high school, Liberte, announced its closure due to the unrest, and staff from the UN mission in Mali received warnings to limit their movements until further notice.
Mali, under military rule following coups in 2020 and 2021, has seen ongoing conflicts involving separatist groups and jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS. However, until now, the capital had largely been spared from such violence.
Since taking power, Colonel Assimi Goita’s military junta has distanced Mali from its traditional European allies, including France, and instead turned to Russia for support, particularly through the Wagner mercenary group. While the junta has vowed to regain control of the country, its offensive against northern rebels has led to widespread accusations of human rights abuses by the military and its Russian partners, allegations which they have strongly denied.
