An aerial view of Bamako, Mali, on Saturday, April 25, 2026.Image: keystone
April 26, 2026, 10:32 amApril 26, 2026, 10:32 am
According to the military, “unknown armed terrorists” have attacked barracks and other targets in the Malian capital Bamako. There were also attacks inland, according to a statement from the General Staff.
In the afternoon, the military said the situation was under control. Several terrorists were “neutralized” and their equipment was destroyed. The information could not be independently verified. The military did not provide any concrete information about the dead or injured.
Airport closed
In a message from the German embassy to the Germans living in Mali, there was talk of a confusing situation. The airport was closed, they said. It is recommended to stay in a safe place and avoid moving around the city.
A reporter from the German Press Agency from Bamako reported that residents of the airport heard detonations. There was also talk on social media of attacks in the cities of Gao in the east of the country, Mopti on the Niger River and in Kati, a town northwest of Bamako.
“At around 5:30 a.m. (local time and UTC) we heard loud explosions and gunshots. Some windows in our house were blown out.”
Residents of Bamako
During the night, loud explosions were heard in Kati, the residence of the interim president and the defense minister. One resident reported: “At around 5:30 a.m. (local time and UTC) we heard loud explosions and gunshots. Some windows in our house were blown out.”
Experts speak of a massive escalation
The army did not provide any further details about the attackers. In the West African country, however, there are repeated attacks by jihadist fighters from the terrorist group JNIM, which has existed since 2017 and is the West African branch of Al Qaeda. Mali is ruled by a military government.
Jean-Hervé Jezequel, director of the International Crisis Group’s Sahel project, said Saturday’s attacks represent a “massive escalation” of the conflict in Mali. “They represent a new step in the strategy of armed groups that have been targeting Mali’s main urban centers for years,” he said. Since 2022, JNIM attacks on urban centers in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger have more than tripled. “While the JNIM’s initial strategy focused primarily on conquering rural areas, it is now also targeting large cities.”
Ulf Lässing, head of the Sahel program of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) in Bamako, spoke of the largest attack by jihadists and Tuareg rebels since 2012. “A new level of escalation has been reached again,” he said.
Bundeswehr ended UN mission in Mali in 2023
From 2013 to 2023, the UN peacekeeping force Minusma in Mali was tasked with protecting the civilian population and stabilizing the West African country. Bundeswehr soldiers were also deployed in Mali; the last of them left the country in December 2023. (sda/dpa)