Mali Military Academy Targeted by Terrorists in Nine Hour Assault

Bamako airport and a military police school in Faladie, on the outskirts of the Malian capital, fell under a nine-hour attack by the al-Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nusrat al Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) militant group on Tuesday. The militant group has claimed 10 of its fighters were killed as well as "hundreds of dead and wounded from Wagner and the Malian military (FAMA)," although these claims are disputed by Russian mercenary sources in the country. 

Security sources in the city have stated that the situation is now "calm," with some militants arrested and others lynched by community members. 

In the aftermath of the attack, the Alliance of Sahel States (AES)—a confederation of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso—asked civilians to refrain from disseminating images or videos of the fallen soldiers. 

What You Need to Know

Shots were first heard at approximately 5:30 GMT, with the Islamic militants gaining access to Bamako airport, torching at least one plane. 

After sweeping the area, the Malian junta announced, "The Malian armed forces have demonstrated exemplary responsiveness and bravery in the face of the terrorist attack on the international airport. All terrorist commandos have been neutralized." 

In the aftermath, several sources have pointed to the targeted arrests of those belonging to the Fulani ethnic group in the area, with mercenary sources noting, "After yesterday's events in Bamako, residents and gendarmes are catching representatives of the Fulani tribe who are often involved with jihadists. Yesterday, several of those represenatives were burned alive right in the [city] center. Today Maslenitsa [slavic holiday which ends with the figure of winter being symbolically burned] continued, and two more were roasted."

At least 20 FAMA personnel are thought to have been killed in the attacks, with most of the deceased gendarme cadets.