Published On 4/29/2026
In light of the escalation of armed attacks and increasing security tensions in Mali, attention is turning to the ability of the transitional military authorities to contain the situation, especially with the recurrence of operations in sensitive areas and the emergence of indicators of turmoil in the field and political scene.
According to Ovigwe Egwego, an expert in Sahel and West Africa affairs, the attack that occurred on the morning of April 25 was sudden, adding that it represented a “shock” to the transitional military government.
He pointed out during an interview with Al Jazeera that field developments preceded the attack by days, pointing to attempts to regain control of the situation, especially in the capital, Bamako, but events accelerated with the departure of a number of officials, especially after the assassination of the Minister of Defense.
The expert explained that clashes are still continuing in the city of Kidal in the north of the country, describing it as the main city in that region, where the forces of the Movement of Azawad, which he said have allied to launch the attack, are active.
He added that the transitional government seeks to regain control over cities such as Savaria, Gao and their suburbs, as part of its efforts to regain the initiative on the ground.
The future of military rule
In response to a question about whether the days of military rule were numbered, Igwegwu ruled out this scenario, explaining that the scene was more complex.
He said that the absence of the head of the Military Council in Mali, Assimi Goita, following the assassination of Defense Minister Sadio Camara, raised questions, before he appeared later to reassure citizens and visit the minister’s family, in a move he considered “evidence of an attempt to establish control.”
Regarding Bamako’s allies, the expert pointed out the existence of cooperation agreements with Russia that include training and providing assistance in emergency situations.
He explained that field support was provided at the beginning of the events, especially in Kidal and Bamako, with the participation of armed elements, but the subsequent withdrawal from Kidal came due to the difficulty of controlling the situation.
He stressed that this cooperation has contributed over the past years to strengthening the government’s influence and control over several regions, but it now faces increasing challenges with the escalation of attacks.
On Saturday, Mali witnessed coordinated attacks carried out by armed groups, including violent clashes and explosions in several areas, which resulted in the death of Defense Minister Sadio Camara.
Media reports indicate that the attacks were carried out by the “Front for the Liberation of Azawad”, which includes fighters from the Tuareg and Arab tribes who are demanding the secession of their regions in the north or for expanded autonomy, in addition to armed groups loyal to Al-Qaeda known as the “Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin”.
