Authorities in Mali have imposed a 72-hour nightly curfew in the capital, Bamako, following a wave of coordinated attacks that struck the city and several other regions, signalling a major escalation in the country’s security crisis.
The curfew, announced by Governor Abdoulaye Coulibaly, runs from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. and took effect on April 25, 2026, as security forces intensified operations to restore order.
Officials say the attacks—linked to jihadist and separatist groups—are among the most complex and coordinated in recent years. At least 16 people were reported wounded in the initial assaults, while the military claimed it had “neutralised” several hundred attackers and brought the situation under control.
Unconfirmed reports suggest that Defence Minister General Sadio Camara may have been killed after his residence in Kati was destroyed, although authorities have yet to verify the claim or release an official casualty figure.
The violence spread across multiple locations. In Bamako and nearby Kati, explosions and heavy gunfire were reported around a major military base and the Modibo Keita International Airport. Fighting also erupted in central and northern مناطق including Gao, Mopti, and Sévaré.
In the northern town of Kidal, separatist fighters reportedly seized large areas following clashes with government troops. There are also indications that Russian Africa Corps fighters were involved, with reports pointing to a possible withdrawal arrangement.
Residents have been urged to remain indoors as security operations continue, amid heightened fears over the scale and coordination of the attacks.
Mali has grappled with prolonged instability, currently under a military junta led by Assimi Goïta, who seized power in 2020. The government had pledged to tackle insurgency in the north, but progress has been uneven, with planned elections repeatedly delayed.
The latest violence traces its roots to a long-running conflict that began with a Tuareg rebellion and later evolved into a broader insurgency involving Islamist militant groups, raising fresh concerns about the country’s ability to restore lasting stability.
