Al-Qaeda Affiliate JNIM Strikes Mali’s Capital in Rare Terrorist Attack

A terrorist attack by the Al-Qaeda affiliate group Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin-or JNIM-occurred in Bamako, Mali, early Tuesday, September 17. The Associated Press reported that the targets of the attack were the gendarme school in Faladié and the military base near Modibo Keita Senou airport.

Later in the day, Malian forces were back in control. General Oumar Diarra, chief of staff of the army, visited the concerned camp to call for unity and to warn against divisive tactics: “Je dis au peuple malien que cet attentat a b Lug ft tot d I’veil. Nous sommes tous maliens, et nous ne devons pas nous laisser dresser les uns contre les autres, ce pourquoi nous doivent eviter les amalgames.”.

General Diarra also urged the local population to help the authorities with information, underlining that community support was very crucial for the ongoing investigations: “I’m asking the population to provide information. Their support has been very substantial; it allows us to take suspects from here and there.” Investigations are ongoing.

The Malian army announced that “all the terrorists” who attacked the gendarme school were “neutralized.” In fact, several students and soldiers have been confirmed dead through a statement on the national broadcaster ORTM 1. It also reported “material damage, without giving specific details about the latter.

At least 15 suspects have been arrested over the attack,” said an official who requested anonymity to speak to AP. JNIM then released a video they said showed their fighters setting fire to a presidential plane and pavilion near Bamako’s airport.

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This attack is the first in Bamako in several years and indicates a fresh attempt by terror groups to pile pressure on the military just days before the country’s Independence Day, on September 22. Mali had witnessed similar attacks in the recent past, including a 2022 assault on a Malian army checkpoint outside the city that killed at least six people and a 2015 attack by another al-Qaeda-linked group that killed at least 20 people at a hotel in Bamako.

Consequently, the situation in Mali remains tense as the country grapples with the threat posed by extremist groups like JNIM, which continue to challenge the stability and security of the region.