Al-Qaeda-Linked Group Claims Responsibility for Bamako Attack

An early morning assault on the Malian capital, Bamako, has been claimed by an al-Qaeda-affiliated militant group. The attack targeted a military training facility and other significant locations within the city, leading the Malian army to label the attackers as “terrorists.”

The attack unfolded near Bamako’s airport, where residents reported hearing gunfire on Tuesday. According to the army, while the attackers initially struck near the airport, the situation was quickly brought under control. Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a prominent jihadist faction active in the Sahel region, has taken responsibility for the operation, which it described as causing substantial human and material damage.

JNIM, alongside various other extremist groups, has been engaged in an insurgency in Mali for over ten years. This organization is noted for its frequent and violent operations across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. In its statement, JNIM indicated that its “special operation” targeted several key points in the city at dawn, including the Faladie gendarmerie school, which was one of the “sensitive points” under attack.

Although there have been no confirmed reports of casualties, two security personnel reported injuries to news agency AFP. In response to the attack, the security ministry reassured the public that daily activities could continue as normal. However, international organizations, including the United Nations, have advised their staff to limit movement in the area.

Social media footage earlier in the day showed thick black smoke rising from parts of the city, and witnesses described how people heading to the mosque for morning prayers had to return home due to the violence. The Modibo Keita International Airport in Bamako has been closed as a precautionary measure following the attack.

The current Malian government, which came to power through a coup in 2021, has been criticized for its handling of the ongoing insurgency. The military-led administration, which ousted French troops and UN peacekeepers, has relied on the Russian Wagner group to combat the jihadist threat. Despite these efforts, the insurgency continues unabated.