Mali repels coordinated attacks on key cities, security forces retain control

Malian security forces have reportedly repelled a series of coordinated attacks targeting key cities and strategic infrastructure across the country, according to military reports and local media.

The Malian Army said on Saturday that armed groups launched large-scale operations in several parts of the country, including the capital, Bamako, as well as Gao, Kidal, Kita and Sévaré.

According to the military, the attackers attempted to strike major administrative buildings and strategic facilities, including areas close to the presidential palace and other government institutions.

Security analysts cited in local reports identified some of the groups involved as armed factions operating in northern Mali, including separatist and jihadist-linked groups active in the Sahel region.

The army said government troops, supported by allied forces, were able to maintain control of strategic positions, including airbases and key military installations in Kita and other areas.

Military authorities reported heavy fighting in several locations, with significant casualties recorded among the attackers. Reports indicated that more than 1,000 fighters were killed during the clashes, including hundreds in Bamako, Gao and Kita, while dozens of vehicles were also destroyed.

The government also confirmed the death of Defence Minister Sadio Camara on Sunday, though officials did not immediately provide details surrounding the circumstances.

Local media reported that Mali’s main international airport remained operational despite the attacks, while authorities said major urban centres had been secured and the assaults successfully repelled.

The military credited the preparedness of national forces and support from allied security partners for preventing a wider security breakdown and ensuring the protection of strategic institutions.

The latest violence comes amid continued instability in Mali and the wider Sahel region, where armed insurgent groups have carried out repeated attacks against military positions and civilian communities.

Analysts say the security situation remains fragile as the country continues to confront insurgency, separatist tensions and broader regional instability following the withdrawal of several foreign military missions in recent years.

Officials have yet to release a full independent assessment of the scale of the attacks, and some details surrounding the operation remain unverified.

However, authorities insist that the coordinated response by Malian forces helped prevent further escalation and preserved political stability in the country.