Insurgents launch coordinated attacks on five locations in Mali including prison near Bamako
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Insurgents launch coordinated attacks on five locations in Mali including prison near Bamako
revised 2×Insurgents launch coordinated attacks on five locations in Mali including prison near Bamako
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Insurgents in Mali launched coordinated attacks on at least five locations early on Saturday, including a strategic northern town and a prison near the capital Bamako, the army said in a statement. The assaults, which began around 4am local time, mark the most serious escalation since late April, when jihadist and separatist forces first joined to kill the country’s defence minister in a series of coordinated strikes.
The army confirmed attacks in Gao, Anefis, Sevare, Aguelhok, and the prison in Kenieroba, 74km south of Bamako. In a follow-up statement later on Saturday, it said 20 “terrorists” had been killed in Sevare and six in Gao, adding that the situation was now “totally under control.” One pro-government fighter was killed in Gao and four were injured, the army said. Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesman for the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a Tuareg separatist movement, told AFP that “several positions have fallen, but fighting is still underway inside the city” of Anefis. A resident there told AFP that “armed groups are in the town, but the army is still putting up resistance,” adding that “the camp has not yet fallen.”
Wassim Nasr, a FRANCE 24 journalist specialising in jihadist movements, said Anefis appeared to be the main target of the coordinated assaults. “All the attacks were conducted to take a very strategic town – which is Anefis, a few kilometres away from Kidal – which the rebels and the jihadists took on the 25th of April,” he said. “So the focus is on the town of Anefis – they took it, but still there’s a military barracks in Anefis and Aguelhok, where we have the Africa Corps Russian mercenaries.” The Africa Corps is a Moscow-backed paramilitary group that has supported Mali’s military junta since 2025, when it replaced the Wagner Group.
The attacks come more than two months after the same groups staged coordinated assaults that killed the defence minister and weakened the junta. In Gao, a local official told Reuters that gunfire and rockets had been launched at a military camp since before dawn. The FLA’s Ramadane confirmed that fighters from the group had attacked Anefis early on Saturday. Government and Russian troops were deployed in Anefis following the April 25–26 attacks, in which the FLA and the regional al-Qaeda affiliate, JNIM, seized control of Kidal.
Violence has surged despite promises from military leaders to end the rebellion. Mali has faced years of conflict involving armed groups linked to al-Qaeda and ISIL, as well as a separatist rebellion in the north seeking an independent state. The latest assaults underscore the persistent threat posed by the alliance of jihadists and Tuareg separatists, which has repeatedly targeted government positions and critical infrastructure. The army’s claim of regaining control in Sevare and Gao suggests a fluid but contested situation, with further clashes possible as insurgents seek to consolidate gains.
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Malis army says rebels launch new attacks on towns and cities Tuareg-led armed group says it attacked northern town where Malian troops and Russian fighters are based.
aljazeera · about 1 hour ago
New wave of coordinated rebel attacks hits Mali Jihadists and their separatist Tuareg allies hit Mali with fresh coordinated attacks Saturday, striking multiple towns and a prison just months after hobbling the countrys military junta with a similar wave of assaults. FRANCE 24s Philip Turle explains.
france24 · about 1 hour ago
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euronews · about 1 hour ago
🇦🇫❌🇲🇱— JNIM/FLA offensive in Gao, Konna, Sevare and Aguelhok, details emerging.
telegram_GeoPWatch · about 1 hour ago
Mali insurgents attack multiple towns and a prison, army says Insurgents in Mali staged attacks in at least five locations early on Saturday, including at a prison in Kenieroba, according to an army statement. The fighting comes more than two months after the countrys defence minister was killed.
france24 · about 2 hours ago
Mali : des attaques coordonnées en cours dans plusieurs localités Les jihadistes et leurs alliés indépendantistes touaregs ont lancé ce matin lassaut contre les villes de Gao, Anéfis, Sévaré et la prison de Kenioroba.
liberation · about 2 hours ago
Insurgents stage attacks across Mali, army says situation under control reut.rs/4f0rwJk
bluesky_Reuters · about 2 hours ago
Au Mali, des attaques menées par des djihadistes et leurs alliés dans plusieurs localités et contre une prison Ces événements surviennent plus de deux mois après des attaques dampleur menées par le Groupe de soutien de lislam et des musulmans. Celles-ci avaient considérablement affaibli la junte au pouvoir à Bamako, notamment avec la mort du ministre de la défense.
le monde · about 2 hours ago
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orf.at · about 2 hours ago
Mali insurgents attack prison and multiple towns, army says Insurgents in Mali staged attacks in five locations early on Saturday, including at a prison in Kenieroba, according to an army statement. The fighting comes more than two months after the countrys defence minister was killed. 👉 Read more:
telegram_France 24 · about 2 hours ago
Mali government says rebels attacking northern towns The Malian army said Saturday that several northern towns, including Gao and Sévaré, were targeted by rebels. The statement came as a rebel group announced a new offensive to capture a northern town. Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), said in a Facebook post that the town of Anefis was being targeted by the separatists. FRANCE 24s Wassim Nasr reports.
france24 · about 2 hours ago
Malis army says rebels launch new attacks on towns and cities Tuareg-led armed group says it attacked northern town where Malian troops and Russian fighters are based.
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yenisafak · about 2 hours ago
Mali insurgents attack multiple towns and a prison, army says Insurgents in Mali staged attacks in at least five locations early on Saturday, including at a prison in Kenieroba, according to an army statement. The fighting comes more than two months after the countrys defence minister was killed.
france24 · about 2 hours ago
Second World War gun recovered from river in Germany The town of Forst in Lower Lusatia was almost completely destroyed during heavy fighting between the German Wehrmacht and the Red Army in April 1945.
euronews · about 2 hours ago
🇦🇫❌🇲🇱— JNIM/FLA offensive in Gao, Konna, Sevare and Aguelhok, details emerging.
telegram_GeoPWatch · about 2 hours ago