The Malian military successfully repelled a terrorist attack on the Faladie Gendarmerie School in Bamako early Tuesday morning. The situation is now reported to be under control, with the military conducting a thorough security sweep of the area.
The attack began around 5:30 a.m. local time, with intense gunfire and explosions reported near the military police center located in the Feladie district, on the southeastern outskirts of Bamako. According to the military, a group of terrorists attempted to breach the gendarmerie school. The armed forces have launched “mopping-up operations” throughout the area to ensure the threat is fully neutralized. They have urged residents to avoid the vicinity and wait for further official information to ensure their safety.
In response to the escalating situation, Modibo Keita International Airport was temporarily closed to prevent any further complications. Additionally, a nearby high school announced it would remain closed “due to external events” resulting from the attack. The United Nations mission in Mali also issued a notice to its staff, advising them to “limit their movements until further notice” as a precautionary measure.
This attack underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by Mali’s military government, which has been grappling with armed rebel groups since a coup in 2021. These groups include separatists and militants associated with al-Qaeda and ISIL (ISIS), although they have largely remained outside the capital city.
Under the leadership of Colonel Assimi Goita, Mali has shifted its foreign alliances from traditional European partners and former colonial power France to Russia, engaging with the Wagner mercenary group for support. This realignment has accompanied an ongoing military offensive against rebels in northern Mali. However, this shift has also led to allegations of human rights abuses against civilians by the Malian army and its Russian allies—claims which the military authorities have denied.
The recent unrest in Mali is part of a broader pattern of instability affecting the Sahel region, where military coups have also occurred in neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger.
