Gunmen launched an early morning assault on a military police base near the Bamako airport in Mali on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, leading to gunfire, explosions, and the temporary closure of the airport. Eyewitnesses reported black smoke rising from the area, and gunfire started around 5 am.
A police source confirmed that the attackers have not yet been identified. Worshippers at a nearby mosque were also trapped due to the violence. The French High School Liberte and the UN Mission in Mali have advised their staff to limit movements until further notice.
Mali, governed by a military junta following coups in 2020 and 2021, faces ongoing threats from rebel groups linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS. However, this is the first such attack in the capital, Bamako.
The junta has shifted its alliances from France to Russia, enlisting the Wagner Group for support, but the offensive against northern rebels has sparked allegations of human rights abuses, which the military denies.
