The Malian army announced on Tuesday that Bamako, the nation’s capital, is under control after insurgents launched an attack on a gendarmerie training facility, with gunfire echoing through the city before dawn.
“Early this morning, a group of terrorists attempted to infiltrate the Faladie gendarmerie school. Mopping-up operations are currently under way throughout the area,” the army said in a statement.
Authorities urged residents to stay clear of the area and await further instructions. The attack occurred in the southeastern district of Faladie, located near Bamako’s main international airport.
Gunfire was reported by Reuters in the nearby Banankabougou neighborhood just before sunrise, as locals heading to the mosque for morning prayers were forced to retreat as shots rang out. The shooting began around 0530 GMT, with conflicting reports from residents about whether the gunfire came from the airport or the vicinity of the gendarmerie.
Security sources confirmed gunfire in several districts near the airport, which was later reported to have been closed due to the situation.
Mali, alongside other West African nations, has been battling a persistent Islamist insurgency that originated in the country’s northern desert in 2012. The conflict has since spread across the Sahel region and into the northern parts of coastal states, causing thousands of deaths and displacing millions.
The inability of authorities to restore security has fueled public anger, contributing to two coups in Mali (2020 and 2021), followed by similar upheavals in Burkina Faso and Niger. Despite promises by the ruling military juntas to bolster security, including forging new alliances with Russia and the deployment of Wagner mercenaries, jihadist attacks have intensified.
In late July, seasoned Wagner fighters were killed during clashes between Tuareg rebels and the Malian army. The army suffered heavy losses after being ambushed by jihadists during their retreat.
