Armed Clashes Erupt at Military Sites in Bamako, Kati, Kidal, and Gao Amid Separatist Activity

Gunmen attacked several locations in Mali's capital Bamako and other cities early Saturday, April 25, 2026, residents and authorities said. Mali's army stated that unidentified armed terrorist groups targeted certain locations and barracks in Bamako. Soldiers were engaged in eliminating the attackers, the army added in its statement.

An Associated Press journalist in Bamako heard sustained heavy weapons and automatic rifle gunfire coming from Modibo Keïta International Airport, which is around 9 miles from the city center. The journalist also saw a helicopter over nearby neighborhoods. The airport is adjacent to an air base used by Mali's air force.

A resident living near the airport reported gunfire and three helicopters patrolling overhead. Mali's army stated in a later statement that the situation was under control. @CBSNews reported these developments based on accounts from residents and authorities.

Residents in other cities in Mali reported gunfire and blasts on Saturday morning, April 25, 2026. A resident of Kati reported being woken up early in the morning by the sounds of gunfire and explosions on April 25, 2026. Kati is a town near Bamako that is home to Mali's main military base.

Gen. Assimi Goita, the leader of Mali's military junta, resides in Kati. Videos on social media showed militant convoys in trucks and motorcycles moving through the deserted streets of Kati. @CBSNews highlighted these videos as part of the coverage of the events.

Videos in the northern towns of Kidal and Gao showed gunfire exchanges in the streets with dead bodies lying on the ground. Gunmen entered Kidal, taking control of some neighborhoods and leading to exchanges of fire with the army, according to a former mayor of Kidal.

Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane, a spokesperson for the Tuareg-led Azawad separatist movement, stated on Facebook that its forces had taken control of Kidal as well as some areas in Gao.

Gao is a northeastern city in Mali. The separatists have been fighting for years to create the state of Azawad in northern Mali. They once drove security forces from the region before a 2015 peace deal.

The 2015 peace deal has since collapsed. The 2015 peace deal paved the way for some ex-rebels to be integrated into the Malian military. @CBSNews reported on the historical context of the separatist movement and the failed peace agreement.

A resident of Gao stated that gunfire and explosions started in the early hours of Saturday, April 25, 2026, and could still be heard in the late morning. The resident stated that the force of the explosions was making the doors and windows of his house shake. The gunfire came from the army camp and the airport, which are right next to each other, the resident added.

Embassy in Bamako issued a security alert stating there have been reports of explosions and gunfire near Kati and the Modibo Keita International Airport in Bamako. S. citizens should shelter in place and avoid travel to Kati and the Modibo Keita International Airport until further information becomes available.

@CBSNews included the embassy's alert in its reporting. In 2024, an al Qaeda-linked group claimed an attack on Bamako's airport and a military training camp in the capital, killing scores of people. This prior incident provides context for the current assaults on military and airport sites.

The ongoing events mark a continuation of security challenges in Mali, as detailed in accounts from multiple locations.