Mali's public prosecutor has alleged that some Malian military officers collaborated with jihadi rebels and separatist fighters during the largest wave of attacks the country has seen in over a decade, authorities announced late Friday. The accusations come as the ruling junta faces mounting setbacks, including the loss of control over key northern territories.
Prosecutor Alleges Treason
In a statement read on state television, the public prosecutor at the Military Court of Bamako revealed that investigations uncovered "solid evidence regarding the complicity of certain military personnel" in the recent assaults. The statement specifically named serving and recently dismissed officers who allegedly participated in "the planning, coordination, and execution" of the attacks. It also implicated prominent exiled politician Oumar Mariko.
The attacks began on Saturday, April 25, when al-Qaeda-backed Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) launched coordinated assaults on the main international airport in Bamako, as well as other towns and cities. Fighters on motorcycles and trucks targeted multiple locations simultaneously, marking a significant escalation in violence.
Strategic Military Camp Captured
On Friday, the FLA claimed to have captured a strategic military camp in the northern town of Tessalit after the withdrawal of Malian army forces and their Russian allies from the Russia's Africa Corp. Achafghi Ag Bouhanda, a top FLA commander, announced the capture in an online video verified by The Associated Press. The camp is located near an airport and the border with Algeria, making it a key strategic asset. The AP could not independently confirm the situation, and Malian authorities did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
This development follows the earlier loss of the major city of Kidal, once a separatist stronghold, where Malian and Russian forces were forced to withdraw. The attacks have killed Malian Defense Minister Sadio Camara, further destabilizing the junta, which has ruled since a 2020 coup.
Blockade Tightens Around Bamako
JNIM earlier this week announced a total blockade of Bamako's four major routes, disrupting traffic and squeezing the capital. The partial blockade has forced some travel agencies to halt operations, and travelers report increased danger on the roads. "These days, traveling by road is a dangerous undertaking," said Aminata Traoré, a frequent traveler between Bamako and the southern Sikasso region.
Malian military leader Assimi Goita has vowed to continue aerial and ground offensives until armed groups are "completely neutralized" and security is restored nationwide. However, the junta faces an increasingly challenging security landscape as jihadi groups expand their influence across the Sahel region.
