Mali’s junta leader convened senior military officials to “reassess strategies,” the presidency announced on Tuesday, following a series of bold militant attacks in the capital that left many dead.
An Al-Qaeda-affiliated group claimed responsibility for the attacks that occurred last Tuesday in Bamako, targeting a section of the main airport and a military police training facility. Reports indicate that more than 75 individuals were killed and over 250 were injured, as confirmed by security sources.
The meeting on Monday allowed for a thorough evaluation of security measures, a reassessment of the threat level, and the establishment of additional guidelines, according to the presidency.
In his first address since the attacks, Mali’s military leader, Colonel Assimi Goita, honored the victims and emphasized “the urgent necessity of remaining vigilant and maintaining an exemplary operational readiness at all times.”
Experts believe the dual attacks significantly undermined the junta, which has held power since coups in 2020 and 2021.
Authorities have not provided an official death toll.
These assaults raise doubts about the junta’s military strategy and its assertions that the security situation is manageable, even as militants have been active in the region for years.
Many Malians have taken to social media, calling for accountability for what they view as a failure in security measures.
The operation claimed by the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (JNIM) was unprecedented in recent years for targeting Bamako, a city typically shielded from the regular attacks seen in other parts of Mali.
JNIM stated through its communication channels that 13 fighters participated in the attacks and claimed that all individuals apprehended by authorities were innocent.
The attacks occurred one day after the junta-led nations of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso commemorated one year since the formation of their alliance, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
These three nations have been under military control following a series of coups since 2020 and have severed ties with their former colonial ruler, France, shifting their military and political alliances toward partners like Russia.
