Islamic militants attacked a military training camp and other locations in Mali’s capital, sparking deadly gun battles and prompting the temporary closure of a nearby airport before troops were able to subdue the assailants. No details of casualties were immediately released, but at least 15 suspects were arrested following the attack. The al-Qaida-linked militant group JNIM claimed responsibility for the attacks, which targeted the Faladie gendarme school in Bamako. The militants also attacked other locations, causing “loss of life and material damage.”
The attack in Mali’s capital is significant as it demonstrates that JNIM has the ability to stage large-scale attacks and concentrate their efforts on military targets rather than random attacks on civilian targets. The military-led government of Mali has suspended all political activity until further notice following the attack. The ruling junta in Mali has expelled French forces and turned to Russian mercenary units for security assistance in the face of growing attacks by armed groups, including some allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. Since taking power, Col. Assimi Goita has struggled to stave off increasing attacks by jihadists in central and northern Mali.
Following the attack, Mali’s authorities closed the airport, with flights suspended due to the exchange of gunfire nearby. The U.S. Embassy in Bamako advised its staff to remain at home and stay off the roads. Despite being rare, attacks in the capital of Bamako have occurred in the past. In 2022, gunmen struck a Malian army checkpoint outside the city, killing at least six people. In 2015, an al-Qaida-linked extremist group killed at least 20 people, including one American, during an attack on a hotel in Bamako. The recent attack by JNIM shows that they are still a significant threat in the region.
Military coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger in recent years have led to the expulsion of French forces and the utilization of Russian mercenary units for security assistance. In July, approximately 50 Russian mercenaries were killed in an al-Qaida ambush while fighting alongside Mali’s army. Attacks by armed groups in the region have been ongoing for more than a decade, with government forces struggling to contain the insurgency. Despite efforts by the ruling junta in Mali to combat the jihadists, attacks in central and northern Mali continue to increase.
The recent attacks in Mali’s capital show that JNIM remains a potent force in the region and is capable of staging attacks in urban areas. The group claimed to have inflicted “major human and material losses” following the assault. While military targets have been the primary focus of their attacks, civilian casualties have also occurred in past incidents. The government of Mali faces significant challenges in combating the armed groups operating in the region, as evidenced by the recent attack in Bamako. The international community continues to monitor the situation in Mali closely as the country grapples with ongoing security threats posed by Islamic militants.
