Mali's military says it is fighting unidentified "terrorist groups" after surprise attacks around Bamako, with heavy clashes reported in Kati, Gao, Kidal and Sévaré. Tuareg FLA rebels claim to control most of the northern city of Kidal, a claim AFP could not independently verify. Helicopters circled the capital, the US embassy urged Americans to shelter in place, and the defence minister's home was heavily damaged by an explosion. The unrest compounds long-running jihadist violence and political turmoil since the 2020–21 coups.
Heavy Fighting Near Bamako — Mali Army Battles 'Terrorist Groups' As Tuareg Rebels Claim Kidal
Fighting was also heard in the northern Malian city of Gao, seen here in a file picture (Souleymane AG ANARA)(Souleymane AG ANARA/AFP/AFP)
Mali's military said on Saturday it was battling unidentified "terrorist groups" after surprise attacks around the capital, Bamako, and in other parts of the country. Witnesses reported heavy fighting in Kati, a town near the capital where junta leader General Assimi Goita has a residence, and clashes were also reported in Gao, Kidal and Sévaré.
An army statement said: "Terrorist groups, not yet identified, early this morning targeted certain points and barracks in the capital and the interior of the country." It added: "We call on the population to be vigilant. Our defence and security forces are engaged in annihilating the attackers." The military later said the situation was under control, while helicopters continued to circle the capital and sporadic shooting persisted.
Residents described heavy gunfire in the Samakebougou neighbourhood of Kati, where one local reported jihadists had seized a military camp. The US embassy in Bamako issued a security alert urging US citizens to "shelter in place." An AFP correspondent said the streets of the capital were largely deserted amid the unrest.
FLA Says It Holds Kidal; Governor 'Took Refuge'
Tuareg fighters aligned with the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) claimed they had taken control of most of Kidal. An FLA spokesman told AFP the governor of Kidal had "taken refuge with his men in the former camp of MINUSMA." The claim could not be independently verified by AFP at the time of reporting. The FLA also posted a photo it said showed a military camp in Kidal occupied by "Russian mercenaries" and Malian forces.
There was intense speculation after a powerful blast heavily damaged the home of Defence Minister General Sadio Camara in Kati; his entourage said he was not present and was "safe." The junta chief's whereabouts were reported as unknown amid the chaos.
Wider Context
Mali's junta, which seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, has labelled the FLA a "terrorist" organisation. The government is simultaneously confronting jihadist groups, including the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), which is affiliated with Al-Qaeda. Analysts say JNIM has recently sought closer ties with the FLA and has been conducting sustained attacks on fuel convoys destined for Bamako since September — actions that previously paralyzed the capital.
Since 2021, Russian private military contractors known as the Wagner Group fought alongside Malian forces; the group left Mali in June 2025 and has since rebranded as the Africa Corps, an organisation reportedly under the Russian defence ministry. The junta cut security and political ties with France and several Western countries and moved closer to Russia. Despite earlier promises to return power to civilians by March 2024, the junta extended General Goita's rule in July 2025 with a five-year term granted without an election.
Thousands have died since the insurgency began more than a decade ago, and tens of thousands of Malians have fled to neighbouring countries. The immediate human cost and casualty numbers from Saturday's attacks were not confirmed by official sources at the time of reporting.
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