The alleged jihadists attacked positions of the Malian army in several cities early Tuesday, notably the main military camp of the big city of Kayes (west), the army and the inhabitants contacted by AFP said. In a press release, the Malian army reports “Coordinated attacks perpetrated very early this morning against the Fama (Malian armed forces, editor’s note) positions” In seven cities. Residents and a local political official have confirmed attacks on AFP in at least four of these cities.
“The situations are closely followed”added the press release without more details. Residents and a local political official have confirmed attacks on AFP in at least four of these cities (Kayes, Nioro, Sandaré, Gogui). “Since this morning, jihadists in pick-up have been attacking the Kayes military camp. We have left our shelter as a precaution (hangar, editor’s note) as far as the camp. It always pulls ”a police source told AFP on condition of anonymity.
“In shock”
“Here in Kayes it shoots!” The jihadists are in the city ”for its part told AFP a resident of Kayes, the main city in western Mali in an eponymous region that has a border with Senegal. One of these localities cited in the army press release, Diboli, is located very close to the border with Senegal. Another resident of Kayes joined by AFP said: “We woke up in shock this morning. There are shots and my home I see smoke that emerges towards the governor’s residence. The shots are intense “.
“The shots come from the side of the military camp and the two police stations. We are safe in our houses at the moment ”said another Kayes resident. In a message on social networks, a local political official of the city of Nioro said: “The Nioro region wakes up in shock. The cities of Nioro, Sandaré and Gogui attacked at the same time 6:40 am. Ditto for Kayes ».
Mali has been plagued since 2012 to a profound security crisis fed in particular by the violence of groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) organization and community criminal groups. It is added to a serious economic crisis. Two important alleged jihadist attacks had recently targeted the Malian army, including an assault coordinated on June 2 against a camp and Timbuktu (north) airport, the day after a bloody raid that had cost the country in the center of the country.
