Mali security: Assimi Goita meets Russias ambassador after coordinated attacks

Mali’s military leader Assimi Goita appeared in public on Tuesday after a major weekend assault. Authorities said Goita met Russia’s ambassador in Bamako. Russia is the junta’s main partner and described the violence as a coup attempt. The visit came as security fears grew in the Malian capital following reports of militant activity.

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Goita’s office released photographs from what looked like the presidential palace in Bamako. The images showed Goita with a Russian group led by Ambassador Igor Gromyko. Later on Tuesday evening, Goita delivered a televised address. Goita promised military action would continue after the coordinated attacks.

Mali attack and Bamako security alert

Earlier, the US Embassy in Mali issued a security alert for Bamako. The notice cited possible terrorist movements within the city. It also referred to reports of forced school closures. Bamako remained tense as residents tracked developments. Some people said they feared for personal safety as information stayed limited.

Goita described the assault as part of a wider plot backed from inside and outside Mali. "These attacks are not isolated incidents; they are part of a broader destabilisation campaign devised and carried out by armed terrorist groups and their internal and external sponsors, who provide them with intelligence and logistical support.\" The statement did not name any foreign state.

Mali attack targets and reported control changes

The junta has ruled since a 2020 coup and faced a major strike on Saturday. Al-Qaida-linked militants and the separatist Azawad Liberation Front group launched near-simultaneous assaults. Attacks hit at least four cities in a region seen as a global hot spot. Targets included Bamako’s international airport and the garrison town of Kati.

The offensive also struck northern and central areas, including Kidal and Sevare. The Azawad Liberation Front said its fighters later seized Kidal. The group claimed Malian and Russian forces pulled out before that takeover. Three days later, it stayed unclear who held several affected areas. The scale of casualties also remained uncertain.

Mali attack and Russia’s Africa Corps claims

Russia’s Ministry of Defence called the weekend violence a coup attempt. The ministry said Russian forces helped stop it. It named the Africa Corps, which supports Mali’s junta, and said it worked with Malian forces. A ministry statement claimed about 12,000 attackers joined the offensive and used sophisticated weapons.

Russia’s statement said military aircraft backed ground units with \"all types of weapons\" during pursuit operations. It also confirmed withdrawal from Kidal, calling it a Malian government decision. The statement said units there fought over 24 hours while surrounded. It said four large attacks were repelled at key positions.

In the televised address, Goita said the campaign would not stop. \"Military operations will continue until the armed groups involved have been completely neutralised and security has been sustainably restored throughout the country,\" Goita said. Mali’s government has not released a detailed account of the attacks. The Associated Press could not independently verify Russia’s claims.

With inputs from PTI