More than 70 people are believed to have died in an attack by an al-Qaeda-linked group on Bamako, Mali’s capital, earlier this week, according to diplomatic and security sources. Hardline fighters from Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen (JNIM) targeted an elite police training academy and a nearby airport on Tuesday, shocking and angering the nation.
A security source, who requested anonymity, informed the AFP news agency that the attack resulted in 77 fatalities and 255 injuries. However, an authenticated confidential official document reported a higher toll of approximately 100, identifying 81 victims. Two diplomats in the region, including one stationed in Bamako, indicated to Reuters that the death toll was likely in the 70s. Meanwhile, a third diplomat suggested that the numbers could be much higher, with hundreds believed dead or injured, and hospitals reportedly overwhelmed, running out of beds to accommodate the victims.
Mali is grappling with an armed uprising that began over a decade ago in its arid northern regions, a conflict that has spilled into neighboring Sahel countries, resulting in thousands of deaths and displacing millions. The recent attack challenges the military’s assertions, made after a coup in 2021, that the situation had stabilized following the withdrawal of French troops and a shift toward Russian security support. Mali’s military leaders have acknowledged some losses in the attack. Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen (JNIM) claimed that dozens of its fighters inflicted casualties on “hundreds” from opposing forces, including members of the Russian mercenary group Wagner. The group also shared videos on social media showing its fighters shooting into the windows of the presidential hangar and damaging aircraft.
A plane used for humanitarian efforts by the World Food Programme (WFP) was among those damaged in the attack, according to National Airways Corp, the South African company that owns the aircraft. WFP spokesperson Djaounsede Madjiangar noted that the plane was vital for transporting aid workers and providing emergency assistance in remote areas of Mali. He emphasized that while it’s not the only plane used in the country, its loss hampers their ability to respond to humanitarian needs across multiple destinations. The attack drew widespread international condemnation, including statements from United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Senegal, African Union Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat, and the embassies of France and the United Kingdom. Jean-Herve Jezequel, Sahel project director at the International Crisis Group, suggested to AFP that JNIM might be attempting to convey a message to Malian authorities about their capability to strike anywhere, highlighting the need for enhanced protection in major cities.
He suggested that the goal might be to compel the government to focus its resources on populated areas, thereby reducing troop presence in rural regions where these groups have established strongholds.
