On April 18 and 19, Mali was the target of numerous simultaneous attacks on several locations in the country.
Starting on April 18, the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM) or “Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin” (JNIM), affiliated with Al-Qaeda, claimed responsibility for this operation carried out in coordination with the forces of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) against the Malian junta positions in Bamako and several important cities in the Sahelian country.
GSIM justified its alliance with FLA by highlighting the latter’s abandonment of secularism. FLA explained its alliance with GSIM, considering it as “a group committed to defending the people against the Bamako regime.”
It appears that this plan, prepared for months, aimed to trap a maximum of Malian forces in the south of the country to prevent them from aiding the units under attack in the north. Only helicopters were able to intervene to provide air-to-ground fire. One was shot down.
Mohamed Ould Ramdane, the FLA spokesperson, stated that Kidal fell on April 18 and that operations are ongoing. In 2023, the Malian Armed Forces, assisted by the Wagner group, recaptured the city of Kidal, ending over a decade of separatist Tuareg group domination.
He also mentioned that several locations in the Gao region are now under FLA control.
On the ground, following an agreement through Algeria, Africa Corps forces (accompanied by Malian army members and officials) evacuated their positions in Kidal. Their final destination is currently unknown.
FLA also sent a message to the authorities of Burkina Faso and Niger, allies of Bamako in the Sahel Alliance, urging them to “distance themselves from the events unfolding in Mali.”
In a subsequent statement, Mohamed Ould Ramdane affirmed that the strategic objective of FLA was “the complete liberation of Azawad and the reestablishment of its control,” expressing readiness “to cooperate with any party” to achieve this goal, including overthrowing the regime in Bamako, which he described as “criminal.”
Observations draw parallels with what happened in Syria with the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024 and the rise of former jihadists of Hayat Tahrir al-Cham (HTC), initially linked to Al-Qaeda.
However, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the terrorists’ actions as a direct threat to the stability of Mali and potentially negative consequences for the entire region.
The general staff of the armed forces issued a statement on April 19, indicating that the hunt for armed terrorist groups continues in Kidal, Kati, and other locations in the country. Alert levels have been raised nationwide, curfews have been implemented, extensive patrols intensified, and checkpoints reinforced to enhance surveillance against the threat. The FAMa remains committed to defending territorial integrity and ensuring national security.
The whereabouts of the junta leader, General Assimi Goita, have not been confirmed since the attack on Kati where his residence and the Malian army headquarters are located. Officials mentioned that “he was exfiltrated from Kati on Saturday and currently stays at a special forces camp near Bamako.”
Context:
- The article discusses the recent attacks in Mali orchestrated by different groups, including the GSIM and FLA, resulting in significant developments in the region.
Fact Check:
- As of the time of writing, the situation in Mali remains fluid, with ongoing military operations and security concerns in various parts of the country.
