Crime Africa

Al-Qaeda-linked group says it was behind Mali attack

An al-Qaeda-linked group has said it was behind an early morning attack in the Malian capital, Bamako.

Armed men targeted a military training school and other areas in the city, the authorities said. In its statement, the army described the assailants as “terrorists”.

After residents reported hearing gunfire on Tuesday, the army said the attackers had struck near the city’s airport but that the situation was now “under control”.

Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) – the group that claimed responsibility for the attack – have, among other groups, been waging a militant islamist insurgency in Mali for more than a decade.

JNIM is considered to be one of the most active militant groups in the wider Sahel region, having staged numerous attacks in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.

It said its “special operation” on Tuesday struck both the training centre and Bamako’s military airport, leaving heavy human and material losses.

The army did not mention any such losses, but said “a group of terrorists tried to infiltrate the Faladie gendarmerie school” in the morning.

The school was among a number of “sensitive points” “targeted by terrorist attacks” at dawn, the security ministry said.

Two members of the security forces told news agency AFP they had been wounded in the attack.

In the afternoon, Mali’s state television channel broadcast footage appearing to show roughly 20 prisoners. The men all had blindfolds on and their wrists tied.
“The terrorists have been neutralised. The sweep is continuing,” army chief of staff Oumar Diarra said during the ORTM news report.

However, he did not mention an attack on the military airport, which JNIM claims to have targeted.

The news report also showed footage of three unmoving bodies laying on the ground.

The security ministry previously assured residents that in the wake of the attack they could carry on with their activities as normal. In contrast, international organisations such as the UN have reportedly advised their staff to restrict their movement.

Videos posted earlier on social media showed black plumes of smoke rising from a part of the city.

As shots rang out, people heading to the mosque for morning prayers had to turn back, news agency Reuters said.

Bamako’s Modibo Keita International Airport has been closed following the attack.

The military seized power in a coup in 2021, accusing the government of failing to do enough to quell the insurgency.

The military expelled French troops and UN peacekeepers and brought in Russia’s Wagner group to help fight the jihadists, but there is no sign of the insurgency ending.

 

Source: bbc.com

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. In addition to his media ventures, Solomon serves as a Brand Ambassador for Alabuga, a prominent Russian industrial company, representing their interests and expansion across Africa. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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