Two loud explosions and sustained gunfire struck the area near Mali’s main military base in Kati, outside the capital Bamako, early Saturday, according to AFP and Reuters. A Reuters witness said soldiers had been deployed to block roads around the base. Kati is the stronghold of military ruler General Assimi Goita.
AFP also reported fighting in Gao in northern Mali and in Sévaré in central Mali. The Associated Press said gunfire was heard near Mali’s international airport. No group has claimed responsibility. Mali’s army said unidentified “terrorist” groups attacked several positions in the capital and elsewhere without specifying locations. Later on Saturday the army said the situation was under control after attacks by armed groups in Bamako and other towns.
Mali has faced a jihadist insurgency for more than a decade, with local affiliates of al‑Qaeda and Islamic State active alongside a longer history of Tuareg rebellions in the north. Military leaders seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, promising to restore security in the Sahel nation, where militants hold large areas in the north and center and frequently attack soldiers and civilians.
Led by Goita, the junta has relied on Russian mercenaries for security support while initially engaging Western partners and, more recently, pursuing closer ties with the United States. The military rulers have cracked down on critics and dissolved political parties. Although the junta pledged to hand power to civilians by March 2024, in July 2025 it granted Goita a five‑year presidential term that can be renewed “as many times as necessary” without holding elections.
Edited by: Sean Sinico