Mali army declares control after insurgents launch coordinated attacks on military bases
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Apr 25
Mali army declares control after insurgents launch coordinated attacks on military bases
14 articles · Updated · Reuters · Apr 25
Explosions and gunfire erupted near Kati base outside Bamako, with attacks also reported in Mopti, Gao, and Kidal; the airport was shut and Defence Minister Sadio Camara's house was destroyed.
The army announced the situation was under control after hours of fighting, though sweeping operations continued and Tuareg rebels claimed control of positions in Gao and Kidal.
This marks Mali's largest coordinated attack in years, involving al Qaeda affiliates and Tuareg groups, testing the military-led regime and its reliance on Russian and U.S. security partnerships.
With French and UN forces gone, are jihadist attacks on Bamako the new normal?
After Russia's Africa Corps reduced its combat role, can Mali's junta survive escalating attacks?
Is the Sahel's military alliance exporting Mali's instability to West Africa's coastal nations?
Can a new human rights lawsuit hold Mali's army and its Russian allies accountable?
Is Mali's 'blood gold' funding Russian mercenaries while global markets look the other way?
Mali’s April 25, 2026 Coordinated Jihadist Attacks: Escalating Violence, Humanitarian Crisis, and Regional Instability
Overview
On April 25, 2026, jihadist groups JNIM and ISSP launched coordinated attacks across Mali, targeting key cities and military bases. These assaults caused widespread fear, displacement, and worsened food insecurity, especially in the Ménaka region. The Malian army and Russian-backed Africa Corps forces responded but struggled to contain the violence, highlighting ongoing security gaps worsened by the withdrawal of French and UN forces. JNIM’s economic blockades and ISSP’s kidnappings further cripple Mali’s economy and deepen humanitarian crises. Weak governance, corruption, and climate pressures fuel instability, while Mali’s reliance on Russian mercenaries undermines the junta’s legitimacy and risks regional spillover, threatening broader West African security.