Armed fighters attack multiple towns across Mali

Mali faced a wave of coordinated attacks across five locations on Saturday, intensifying the ongoing security crisis in the West African nation. The assaults, which began around 5 a.m. local time, targeted towns including Aguelhok, Anefis, Gao, Sevare, and Kenieroba. The northern town of Anefis, situated in the Kidal region, was specifically identified as a target by the Tuareg-led armed group, the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA).

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Several positions have fallen, but fighting is still underway inside the city.

Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, an FLA spokesperson, confirmed to Reuters that fighters attacked Anefis. He stated that "several positions have fallen, but fighting is still underway inside the city." An Anefis resident contacted by AFP corroborated this, reporting that "armed groups are in the town, but the army is still putting up resistance. The camp [there] has not yet fallen." Anefis and Aguelhok are reportedly the last remaining locations in the Kidal region where the Malian army maintains a presence following earlier attacks in April.

In the central city of Gao, a local official told Reuters that gunfire and rockets were launched at a military camp before dawn, though the perpetrators were not immediately identified. Similarly, in Sevare, explosions were heard around 5 a.m., with their origin unknown, followed by the sighting of several aircraft over the area, according to a security source speaking to AFP. In Kenieroba, a major prison complex was also reportedly under attack, as confirmed by a prisoner inside the facility to AFP.

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Armed groups are in the town, but the army is still putting up resistance. The camp [there] has not yet fallen.

These latest assaults represent a significant escalation and pose a continued threat to Mali's military-led government. The attacks come just over two months after high-profile assaults in April, which included strikes on Bamako's airport, the killing of the defense minister, and the seizure of several army bases in the north. The FLA and an al-Qaeda affiliate had previously taken control of Kidal town in late April.

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Explosions rang out … around 5am, though their origin is not yet known. Shortly thereafter, several aircraft were spotted flying over the area.