Malian forces launch airstrikes on terrorist groups in southwest

By Mevlut Ozkan

ISTANBUL (AA) - The Malian army (FAMa) on Sunday said it carried out airstrikes against terrorist groups in the country's southwest, hitting a “significant movement” of militants near the Mourdiah area.

The strikes were carried out as part of a reconnaissance mission on Saturday, targeting armed groups southeast of the Mourdiah camp, FAMa said in a statement. The army, however, did not specify which terrorist groups were targeted.

Mali has been going through a security crisis since 2012, fueled by separatist movements and terrorist attacks, particularly in the northern and central regions.

In December 2024, five armed separatist groups announced an alliance, forming the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), which seeks independence for certain regions of northern Mali.

The alliance has the High Council for Azawad Unity (HCUA), the National Movement for Azawad Liberation (MNLA), and rebel factions of the Azawad Arab Movement (MAA) and Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies (GATIA).

The Malian government regards these groups, as well as the al-Qaida-linked JNIM and the Macina Liberation Front (FLM), as terrorist organizations.

JNIM began to retaliate after the Malian authorities decided to ban the sale of fuel outside of stations in rural areas, aiming to cut off those groups’ supply chains, according to media reports.

The group besieged Bamako in September and carried out multiple attacks on fuel tankers.

The terrorist organization wants to paralyze Bamako, put pressure on the Malian government, and seize control of the country, which has been ruled by the military since two coups in 2020 and 2021.

The military leadership severed security ties with its longtime partner and former colonial power, France, and sought closer cooperation with Russia after the coups.