Insurgents Advance Towards Mali's Capital Bamako

Large-scale attacks against Mali's rulers began on April 25. A coalition of jihadist and separatist forces launched a large-scale coordinated attack across Mali on April 25. While the government repelled attacks in southern, central, and Mopti regions, the military has struggled to contain the offensive in the north. An Islamic Sunni group in Mali began an uprising last week. The group follows Sharia principles and maintains ideological ties to Al-Qaeda and Syrian rebels. They have reportedly been joined by militants from the Azawad Liberation Front. The group operates within the Sahelian Russian alliance formed in 2024, which includes Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali. The alliance is led by military junta leader Assimi Goïta, who took power in a 2021 coup. Goïta previously severed ties with France and expelled its military forces and 15,000 UN peacekeepers from the country. The security situation in Mali is described as very tense, with peace not holding as insurgents continue to attack. Terrorists are reportedly attempting to capture Bamako, the capital city. The Malian government and military are reportedly receiving support from neighboring Sahel region countries, as attackers are said to have come from Mauritania.