On April 25, 2026, Mali experienced a series of coordinated attacks by jihadist groups allied with Tuareg rebels against strategic positions of the ruling junta. The attacks targeted military bases and checkpoints in the regions of Gao, MΓ©naka, and Kidal, according to security sources.
Local officials reported that at least 15 soldiers were killed and dozens wounded in the assaults, which involved heavy weapons and suicide bombers. The Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA), a Tuareg-led rebel alliance, claimed responsibility for some of the attacks, stating they were in response to the junta's failure to implement the 2015 Algiers peace agreement.
Jihadist groups, including the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM), also claimed involvement. The Malian government has not yet released an official death toll but confirmed that the attacks were repelled with reinforcements from the Wagner Group, a Russian private military company operating in the country.
The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) condemned the attacks and called for restraint. The situation remains tense, with the junta vowing to restore order and continue its counterterrorism operations.
