Gambiaj.com – (BAMAKO, Mali) – Tension gripped the Malian capital late Monday after two powerful explosions were heard near the airport zone in Sénou, on the outskirts of Bamako, with authorities yet to determine their origin.
According to an AFP correspondent on the ground, the blasts were followed by a period of calm, though the incident triggered heightened security activity in the area. Shortly before the explosions, a convoy of pickup trucks and troop transport vehicles was seen moving rapidly toward the airport, while a military aircraft briefly circled overhead.
Residents also reported sustained gunfire and additional explosions overnight around Sénou airport, underscoring the volatile and still unclear security situation.
The resurgence of violence is widely suspected to be linked to renewed operations by the jihadist coalition Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), which earlier in the day reportedly deployed fighters in the peripheral zones of the capital.
A video circulated by STRATAF appeared to show armed groups described as jihadists operating on the outskirts of Bamako, though the footage could not be independently verified.
Analysts warn that the capital itself may be an emerging target, as coordination between JNIM and the Tuareg-led Front de Libération de l’Azawad (FLA) signals an escalation in their campaign against the state. The apparent convergence of these forces has raised fears of a sustained offensive aimed at destabilizing the seat of government.
Compounding the uncertainty are unverified reports concerning the whereabouts of junta leader Assimi Goïta, who has not been seen publicly since Saturday. Sources indicate he was moved to a secure location following earlier coordinated attacks, but his continued silence has fueled speculation and public doubt over the chain of command.
The muted response from the military leadership after what observers describe as unprecedented joint attacks by jihadist and separatist forces has further unsettled the population.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga visited victims wounded in Saturday’s large-scale assault in Kati, receiving treatment at a Bamako hospital. He was accompanied by Malick Diaw, a key figure in the ruling junta.
Mali has been under military rule since the 2020 coup, and the latest developments highlight the persistent fragility of the security situation, even in areas previously considered relatively secure. As uncertainty lingers over both the scale of the threat and the state’s response, residents of Bamako remain on edge, bracing for potential further escalation.
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