Suspected jihadist militants carried out a wave of coordinated attacks on military installations across several towns in western Mali early Tuesday, heightening tensions in the already volatile Sahel region.
According to a statement by Mali’s military, seven army positions were simultaneously targeted in what it described as “coordinated attacks carried out very early this morning.” The army, however, did not provide a casualty figure, saying the situation was being monitored and that further updates would follow.
Residents and a local politician confirmed the attacks in at least four towns, including Kayes, Nioro, Sandare, Gogui, and Diboli — the latter located on the border with Senegal. Explosions and intense gunfire were reported, with one Kayes resident describing “billowing smoke” near the governor’s residence.
“We woke up in shock this morning. There’s gunfire, and from my house I can see smoke billowing towards the governor’s residence,” the resident told AFP. Another reported taking shelter at home as the violence unfolded.
A military source said the first blast was heard from the direction of the governor’s residence in Kayes before gunfire erupted at the nearby army camp.
Though no group has claimed responsibility for the assault, the attack bears the hallmarks of the Al-Qaeda-linked Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), which has been active in Mali and neighboring countries.
Tuesday’s assault comes amid a recent surge in jihadist violence in Mali. On June 2, a deadly attack targeted a military base and airport in Timbuktu. Just a day earlier, at least 30 soldiers were killed in a separate raid in central Mali. Both attacks were claimed by jihadist groups.
The renewed offensive reflects the growing strength of jihadist movements across the Sahel. Armed groups have stepped up attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger — three countries where military juntas seized power in recent years, vowing to restore security. Despite those promises, insurgent violence has intensified.
A report by the Timbuktu Institute, a Dakar-based think tank, notes that JNIM is seeking to expand its presence beyond Mali into neighboring Senegal and Mauritania.
As of Tuesday, the Malian military said it was “closely monitoring” the situation and vowed to release more information in due course.
