“Around 5:00 a.m., armed men targeted at least one military police base in Bamako, though their identities remain unknown,” a police source told AFP, requesting anonymity.
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Witnesses reported hearing volleys of gunfire and explosions, while black smoke rose from an area near the airport. As a result, Bamako’s airport was shut down temporarily, though the duration of the closure remains unclear.
One witness said he and other worshippers were trapped in a mosque near the scene during early morning prayers.
In response to the violence, the French high school Liberte announced it would remain closed “due to external events,” and UN staff in Mali were advised to limit their movements until further notice.
Mali has been governed by a military junta since successive coups in 2020 and 2021. While the country faces ongoing conflict with armed rebel groups, including separatists and jihadists linked to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State, Bamako has largely been spared from violence until now.
Since the military takeover, Mali’s government, led by Colonel Assimi Goita, severed ties with European allies and France, instead aligning with Russia and the Wagner mercenary group. The junta has vowed to regain control of the entire country, though its northern offensive has sparked allegations of human rights abuses by the Malian army and Russian forces—claims both deny.
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