Armed groups have launched coordinated attacks on several towns across Mali, targeting military positions in the latest escalation of the country’s security crisis.
Mali’s armed forces said the attacks struck five locations, including the northern towns of Anefis and Aguelhoc, Gao and Sevare in central Mali, and Kenioroba in the south.
The army said security forces had responded to the assaults and that operations were ongoing to restore order.
A spokesperson for the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front confirmed the group took part in the attacks, while there was no immediate claim of responsibility from the al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin, or JNIM.
Residents in Gao and Sevare reported heavy gunfire and explosions, although authorities have yet to confirm the extent of casualties or damage.
The attacks come months after armed groups carried out major assaults on military facilities in Bamako and other parts of the country, underscoring the persistent security challenges facing Mali’s military-led government.
Despite increased support from Russian forces and ongoing counterterrorism operations, jihadist and separatist groups continue to launch deadly attacks across Mali and the wider Sahel region.
