Early Tuesday, gunmen launched a dramatic attack on a military police base in Bamako, Mali’s capital, resulting in a chaotic scene filled with gunfire and explosions. Reports confirm that the airport was temporarily closed as a precaution.
The attack began around 5:00 a.m., with bursts of gunfire and explosions creating black smoke visible near the airport. The exact identity of the attackers remains unknown, according to a police source who spoke anonymously.
The airport’s closure was confirmed by an official, though the duration of the closure is still uncertain. Witnesses reported that individuals, including worshippers at a nearby mosque, were trapped during early morning prayers.
In response to the situation, the French high school Liberte has decided to close its doors, citing “external events.” Additionally, the United Nations mission in Mali has advised its staff to “limit their movements until further notice.”
Mali has been under military junta control since consecutive coups in 2020 and 2021. The country has faced ongoing instability, with various rebel groups, including separatists and jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS, operating within its borders. However, Bamako had largely been spared from significant violence until now.
Following the coups, Mali shifted its alliances, moving away from European partners and former colonial power France in favor of support from Russia and the Wagner Group. The junta has committed to regaining control over the entire nation, but their military campaigns in the north have faced serious allegations of human rights abuses, which they deny.
