Mali’s army reports nationwide militant attacks, gunfire near Bamako airport

Mali’s army said Saturday that unidentified armed “terrorist” groups have launched attacks on multiple military positions in the capital Bamako and in the country’s interior, with the army confirming fighting was still ongoing at the time of the statement.

Witnesses and journalists on the ground reported two explosions and sustained gunfire near Mali’s main military camp, as well as at several other locations across the country.

Gunfire was also heard near Bamako’s main airport, raising the possibility that the attacks targeted critical infrastructure in addition to military sites.

The attacks come as Mali’s military junta, which seized power in a 2021 coup, continues to battle multiple armed groups across the country’s vast territory, including jihadist factions linked to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

This is a developing story.