Rebel checkpoints reported around Mali’s capital, northern town seized | Conflict News
Mali Faces Intensified Attacks from Armed Groups
By Al Jazeera Staff and News Agencies
Published May 1, 2026
Malian authorities are grappling with escalating violence as Al-Qaeda-linked Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and Tuareg separatists increase their attacks against the military government. Reports indicate that rebel fighters have established checkpoints around the capital, Bamako, and have taken control of the northern town of Tessalit.
According to Reuters, JNIM has urged Malians to rise against the military junta and adopt Islamic law. This call to arms comes in the wake of recent assaults that resulted in the death of Mali’s Defense Minister, Sadio Camara.
Local social media accounts released videos on Friday showing armed fighters inside the Amachach base in Tessalit, where military vehicles were observed operating freely. A video verified by Reuters depicted these fighters parading through the town, displaying the flag of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), an armed movement advocating for the independence of northern Mali.
Reports from sources aligned with the FLA claim that the fighters gained control of the base following the withdrawal of the Malian army and the Russian-backed African Corps. Russia serves as the primary foreign supporter of Mali’s military government.
On Thursday, JNIM asserted it had seized the Hombori base in central Mali and taken over two checkpoints near Bamako. The group previously threatened to completely encircle the capital. In response, Russia’s African Corps issued a statement refuting JNIM’s claim regarding the Hombori base, asserting that helicopters delivered supplies to Malian troops stationed there and facilitated the evacuation of injured soldiers.
The African Corps noted ongoing reconnaissance by JNIM and the FLA, aimed at undermining the morale of the Malian Army.
Nicolas Haque, reporting from Dakar, Senegal, highlighted the absence of a military response from Malian forces amidst the rebel advances, noting that four major military camps in northern Mali have reportedly fallen to armed groups.
Mali’s military leadership came to power following coups in 2020 and 2021, briefly transitioning to civilian rule before regaining control. As of this report, there has been no official statement from Malian authorities.
