Two powerful explosions and sustained gunfire rocked an area near Mali’s main military base in Kati, outside the capital Bamako, on Saturday morning, according to AFP and Reuters news agencies.
A Reuters witness reported that troops were deployed to close roads in the area. Kati is home to military ruler General Asimi Goita.
Meanwhile, AFP reported fighting in Gao, the largest city in northern Mali, as well as Sèvres in central Mali.
According to the AP report, gunfire was also heard near Mali’s international airport.
The cause of the blasts is unclear, and no group has claimed responsibility.
Mali’s security crisis
Mali has been battling a jihadist insurgency for more than a decade, battling the West African affiliates of al-Qaeda and Islamic State. There is also a long history of Tuareg-led insurgency in the north.
Military leaders took power in Mali after coups in 2020 and 2021, vowing to restore security in the Sahel country, where militants control large areas in the north and center and frequently attack the military and civilians.
Under Goita’s leadership, the military government has initially relied on Russian mercenaries for security assistance while pursuing defense cooperation with Western countries. However, more recently it has forged closer ties with the United States.
The military junta has cracked down on critics and dissolved political parties. Although the junta had promised to hand over power to civilians by March 2024, in July 2025, it gave Goita a five-year presidential term, which could be renewed “as often as necessary” without holding elections.
Edited by: Shawn Sinico