Tuareg-led armed group says it attacked northern city the place Malian troops and Russian fighters are primarily based.
Printed On 4 Jul 2026
Armed fighters have launched assaults in 5 areas throughout Mali, greater than two months after gunmen attacked the capital and different elements of the nation.
The assaults passed off on Saturday in areas together with a northern city the place authorities forces and Russian fighters are primarily based, and a city south of the capital, Bamako, Mali’s army and safety sources mentioned.
The military mentioned the assaults focused Aguelhok, Anefis, Gao, Sevare and Kenieroba.
The AFP information company mentioned a jail in Kenieroba was attacked, citing residents and safety sources.
It reported that the preventing in several areas began at about 5am native time (05:00 GMT).
A Tuareg-led armed group confirmed that it had attacked a northern Malian city early on Saturday.
Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for the Azawad Liberation Entrance (FLA), informed the Reuters information company that fighters from the group attacked the city of Anefis within the northeastern Kidal area.
Authorities and Russian troops deployed in Anefis within the wake of assaults on April 25 and 26, by which the FLA and the regional al-Qaeda affiliate seized management of Kidal city.
Ramadane additionally informed AFP that “a number of positions have fallen, however preventing remains to be underway inside the town” of Anefis.
An Anefis resident contacted by AFP mentioned “armed teams are within the city, however the military remains to be placing up resistance. The camp [there] has not but fallen”.
Anefis and Aguelhok, each within the north, are the final remaining areas the place Mali’s military maintains a presence within the Kidal area, following the April assaults.
In the meantime, in the central metropolis of Gao, a neighborhood official informed Reuters that gunfire and rockets had been launched at a army camp since earlier than daybreak. It was not instantly clear which fighters had been accountable.
In Sevare, one other central city, “explosions rang out … round 5am, although their origin will not be but recognized. Shortly thereafter, a number of plane had been noticed flying over the world”, a safety supply informed AFP.
In Kenieroba, the main jail complicated was additionally below assault, a prisoner within the facility informed AFP.
Saturday’s assault was the newest menace to the military-led authorities within the landlocked Sahel nation the place rebels staged high-profile assaults in April, hitting the airport within the capital, Bamako, killing the defence minister and seizing a string of military bases within the north.
