Wave of attacks in Mali: insurgents strike several cities, the army claims to have regained control

Mali was targeted by a series of insurgent attacks in five locations across the country early Saturday. The assaults targeted several army positions, particularly in the north, where Malian forces and Russian fighters are stationed, as well as a town south of the capital, Bamako.

According to a statement from the Malian armed forces, the attacks affected the towns and villages of Anefis, Aguelhoc, and Gao in the north, Sévaré in the center, and Kéniéroba in the south of the country. The army claims to have repelled the attackers and asserts that the situation is now "completely under control."

Military authorities report that 20 "terrorists" were killed in Sévaré and six others in Gao. They also report the death of a pro-government fighter in Gao and four wounded among allied forces.

The Azawad Liberation Front (ALF), a Tuareg rebel group, claimed responsibility for the attacks. Last April, the movement allied itself with Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, in a coordinated operation against Bamako airport, which notably resulted in the death of Mali's Minister of Defense.

This new wave of violence underscores the persistent insecurity in Mali, despite promises from military authorities to restore stability. The country continues to face regular attacks from armed groups in several regions, particularly in the north and center of the territory.