BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — The military leader of Mali appeared publicly for the first time since his West African country endured massive coordinated strikes by Islamic extremists and separatist forces over the weekend, meeting Tuesday with Russia’s top diplomat in the capital.
Colonel Assimi Goita’s office distributed photographs of his meeting with a Russian diplomatic team headed by Ambassador Igor Gromyko, which took place at what appeared to be the presidential palace in Bamako.
At the same time, the United States Embassy in Mali warned of “possible terrorist movements within Bamako, including reports of forced school closures” in a security bulletin.
The military government, which has controlled Mali since seizing power in 2020, faced its most significant challenge Saturday when al-Qaida-affiliated fighters and the Azawad Liberation Front separatist organization launched synchronized strikes against at least four cities in what experts consider a global terrorism hotspot.
The nearly simultaneous assaults targeted Bamako’s main airport, the military garrison town of Kati located nearby, and multiple locations in northern and central Mali, including the cities of Kidal and Sevare.
According to the Azawad Liberation Front, their forces ultimately captured Kidal after both Malian troops and Russian personnel pulled back from the area. The violence also claimed the life of Mali’s defense minister, General Sadio Camara.
Three days after the attacks began, questions remained about who controlled the affected territories and how many people were killed or wounded in the fighting.
Tension gripped Bamako as some citizens expressed concerns about their personal security.
Russia’s Defense Ministry characterized the weekend violence as an attempted overthrow of the government and stated that Russian troops — specifically the Africa Corps supporting Mali’s military leadership — working alongside Malian security personnel successfully thwarted the effort.
According to a Russian military statement, approximately 12,000 fighters launched the offensive using advanced weaponry, prompting the deployment of military aircraft to support ground troops who used “all types of weapons” while pursuing the attackers.
The ministry acknowledged pulling back from Kidal but described it as a Malian government decision, stating that forces stationed in the northern city had “fought for more than 24 hours in full encirclement against vastly superior enemy forces and repelled four massive attacks on its main stronghold and outer defensive positions.”
Mali’s government has not released any comprehensive details about the attacks, and The Associated Press was unable to independently confirm the Russian version of events.
