Military Police Training Camp and Airport Targeted, 255 Wounded in Coordinated Assault
JNIM Fighters Strike in Mali, Target Military Police and Airport In a devastating assault on Tuesday, Mali’s capital, Bamako, witnessed one of its deadliest attacks in years as coordinated strikes targeted a military police training camp and the nearby airport, resulting in over 70 deaths and leaving 255 people wounded. The incident, claimed by the Al Qaeda-linked Group to Support Islam and Muslims (JNIM), shocked the nation, as Bamako is usually spared from such violence that frequently plagues other regions of Mali.
A security source revealed that 77 people had been killed
And the number of casualties continues to rise, with some reports estimating the toll to be as high as 100. Among the victims, 50 military police students will be laid to rest, as reported by Le Soir. The attack is seen as a significant blow to Mali’s security forces and military-led authorities, who have yet to release an official death count.
The attack, which struck a military police training school and parts of the nearby airport complex, marks the first major assault in Bamako since 2016. The assailants targeted personnel at the military police centre, and JNIM fighters claimed responsibility for killing and wounding “hundreds” of soldiers, including Russian paramilitary fighters from the Wagner group.
This assault came just a day after the junta-led Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso commemorated the first anniversary of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), a breakaway group from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Mali, which has been under military rule following multiple coups since 2020, continues to grapple with insurgencies linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State group.
International condemnation swiftly followed the attack
Senegal and African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat denounced the violent assault, which has reignited concerns about security and governance in the Sahel region.
Tuesday’s attack highlights the continued volatility in Mali despite efforts by the ruling junta to stabilize the country. The insurgent group’s brazen assault on both military and civilian facilities underscores the growing challenges the region faces as extremist groups target key infrastructure and security forces.
