Five Malian garrison towns — Kati, Bamako, Sevare, Gao and Kidal — were hit in near-simultaneous attacks over the weekend. The al‑Qaeda‑linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), in coordination with the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), which is largely made up of Tuareg separatists, claimed responsibility.
Nina Wilen, director of the Africa program at Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels, told DW the attacks were “unprecedented in Mali’s history” and illustrated “how strong JNIM has become over the past year.” She added that the failure of Malian military intelligence to detect the plots in advance was “a major failure for them.”
Mali’s defense minister, Sadio Camara, was killed on Saturday, April 25, in a suicide car bombing outside his private residence in Kati, about 15 kilometers from the capital Bamako. Kati is the heart of military power and the seat of the transitional government; a state funeral and two days of national mourning were announced.
Wilen said Camara was targeted for two likely reasons: he is a highly symbolic figure for the junta, and he has led efforts to deepen ties with Russia, so the attack may also signal opposition to Russian forces in Mali.
Kidal in the northeast, the FLA’s stronghold, had been recaptured by the Malian army in 2023 with support from the Wagner Group. But Djallil Lounnas, associate professor of international relations at Al Akhawayn University in Morocco, said the situation has shifted. He described the Malian army as “extremely weak,” generally confined to urban centers while rural areas fell outside its control, leaving government forces isolated in places like Kidal.
On April 27, the Moscow‑controlled Africa Corps — seen as Wagner’s successor — confirmed it had withdrawn from Kidal after heavy fighting, following consultations with Mali’s leadership. The FLA announced it had taken large parts of northern Mali. Lounnas said the Africa Corps fought in Kidal, Kati and Bamako but noted their numbers were limited — roughly 600 to 1,000 fighters — and that Russia’s broader involvement is unlikely given other commitments.
Observers point to renewed coordination between JNIM and Tuareg rebels. Ulf Laessing, head of the Sahel program at Germany’s Konrad Adenauer Foundation in Bamako, said the jihadists and Tuareg groups “have nothing in common, but they have a joint enemy.” They previously cooperated in 2012 to seize northern Mali, though jihadists later sidelined Tuareg factions. Lounnas emphasized historical ties and shared tribal backgrounds that facilitate collaboration.
Laessing suggested the rebels lack the capacity to govern large cities such as Bamako; their aim may be to spark uprisings or pressure the government into negotiations rather than to hold major urban centers. Public sentiment is complex: many Malians are discontented with the current situation but are wary of being ruled by jihadists.
Since Saturday evening, Bamako has been under a 72‑hour nighttime curfew. Roadblocks have appeared near police stations, the Armed Forces General Staff and state television. Residents reported restricted movement, especially in Kati where access roads were reportedly closed.
The junta‑led Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — made up of Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger — denounced the attacks as “a monstrous plot backed by the enemies of the liberation of the Sahel,” but has not provided concrete military assistance to Mali. Wilen called this “astonishing,” saying the AES appears more an alliance on paper than in practice. Laessing noted Burkina Faso and Niger face their own jihadist challenges and are unlikely to send significant troop reinforcements, though limited support such as drone strikes is possible.
By Sunday, calm had reportedly returned to Mopti and Sevare after Malian air support helped recapture a governor’s residence and a security post seized by militants.
The African Union Commission chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, strongly condemned the attacks, warning of danger to civilians. UN Secretary‑General António Guterres denounced “violent extremism” and called for coordinated international support. Germany expressed concern and advised its citizens to leave Mali if possible and to avoid travel there for now.