2024 Bamako attacks

{{Infobox battle

| conflict = 2024 Bamako attacks

| place = Faladie and Modibo Keita International Airport, Bamako, Mali

| partof = Mali War

| date = September 17, 2024

| result = Inconclusive

JNIM causes heavy losses in Malian troops and equipment
Malian forces quell attack

| combatant1 = {{flagdeco|Mali}} Mali
{{flagdeco|Russia}} Wagner Group

| combatant2 = {{flagdeco|ISIS}} Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin

| strength2 = 10 (per JNIM)

| strength1 = Unknown

| casualties1 = 77-100 killed

| casualties2 = 10 killed (per JNIM)
20 killed or arrested (per Mali)

| casualties3 = 1 UN personnel injured
1 alleged militant lynched

| image = Aéroport international Président Modibo Keita-Senou de Bamako la nuit 03.jpg

| caption = Modibo Keita International Airport in 2023

}}

On 17 September 2024, gunmen from a cell of Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) attacked several locations across Bamako, the capital of Mali, including Malian Army and Wagner Group bases and Modibo Keita International Airport.{{Cite web |last1=Chibelushi |first1=Wedaeli |last2=Njie |first2=Paul |date=17 September 2024 |title=Al-Qaeda-linked group says it was behind Mali attack |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8d996x1r0o |access-date=17 September 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=19 September 2024 |title=Jihadist Attacks In Mali Capital Killed More Than 70: Security Sources |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/jihadist-attacks-in-mali-capital-killed-more-than-70-security-sources-6d48c70a |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919152417/https://www.barrons.com/news/jihadist-attacks-in-mali-capital-killed-more-than-70-security-sources-6d48c70a |archive-date=19 September 2024 |access-date=19 September 2024 |website=Barron's |language=en |agency=Agence France-Presse}} About 100 Malian soldiers and policemen were killed and more than 255 others were injured.{{Cite web |date=September 19, 2024 |first=Eromo |last=Egbejule |title=Jihadist assault on Mali's capital killed scores of people, say security sources |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/sep/19/jihadist-assault-on-mali-capital-bamako-killed-scores-of-people-say-security-sources |access-date=October 20, 2024 |publisher=The Guardian and Agence France-Presse |language=en}}

Background

Al-Qaeda aligned groups have waged an insurgency in central and northeastern Mali since 2012, and gaining steam in 2017 with the formation of Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin. Bamako, the Malian capital, had been attacked a few times in 2015 with the most notable being the Radisson Blu attack that killed 22.{{Cite web |date=2025-01-13 |title=Danger at Senegal's Gates: The Jihadist Expansion toward Southwestern Mali {{!}} Hudson Institute |url=https://www.hudson.org/danger-senegals-gates-jihadist-expansion-toward-southwestern-mali#footNote5 |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=www.hudson.org |language=en}} Since then, no attacks have occurred in Bamako, although JNIM cells have expanded westward into Koulikoro Region and Sikasso Region since then.

Attacks

The attacks began in the early morning of 17 September 2024 at around 05:00,{{Cite web |title=Major jihadist attack in Mali's capital killed more than 70, security source says |url=https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20240919-major-jihadist-attack-in-mali-s-capital-killed-more-than-70-security-source-says-jnim-bamako-al-qaeda |access-date=20 September 2024 |website=France 24 |date=19 September 2024 |language=en |agency=Agence France-Presse}} when gunmen attacked several locations across Bamako including the Banankabougou neighbourhood,{{Cite web |title=Malian capital Bamako 'under control' after surprise Islamist attack |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20240918-malian-capital-bamako-under-control-after-surprise-islamist-attack |access-date=20 September 2024 |website=Radio France Internationale |date=18 September 2024 |language=en |agency=Reuters |archive-date=20 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920015057/https://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20240918-malian-capital-bamako-under-control-after-surprise-islamist-attack |url-status=live }} the Faladie military police school{{Cite web |last1=Ahmed |first1=Baba |last2=Mednick |first2=Sam |last3=Banchereau |first3=Mark |title=Mali troops put down a deadly militant attack in the capital |url=https://apnews.com/article/mali-explosions-training-camp-attack-472f06bd7d2d9d2913252e9787f276f9 |access-date=20 September 2024 |website=Associated Press |date=17 September 2024 |language=en}} housing elite units of the Malian gendarmerie{{Cite news |last=Roger |first=Benjamin |date=18 September 2024 |title=Mali's capital hit by first major jihadist attack since junta came to power |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2024/09/18/mali-s-capital-hit-by-first-major-jihadist-attack-since-junta-came-to-power_6726489_124.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920023301/https://www.lemonde.fr/en/le-monde-africa/article/2024/09/18/mali-s-capital-hit-by-first-major-jihadist-attack-since-junta-came-to-power_6726489_124.html |archive-date=20 September 2024 |access-date=20 September 2024 |work=Le Monde |language=en}} in the southeast of Bamako, and the nearby military airport, which the JNIM claimed to have fully taken. The attacks prompted the closure of Modibo Keita International Airport, which adjoins the military airport and a Wagner Group base located there,{{Cite news |date=2024-09-18 |title=Au Mali, Bamako subit sa première attaque djihadiste d'ampleur depuis l'accession au pouvoir de la junte |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2024/09/18/au-mali-bamako-subit-sa-premiere-attaque-djihadiste-d-ampleur-depuis-l-accession-au-pouvoir-de-la-junte_6322449_3212.html |access-date=2025-01-30 |language=fr}}{{Cite web |title=Jihadist attack in Mali capital killed more than 70: security sources |url=https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20240919-jihadist-attack-in-mali-capital-killed-more-than-70-security-sources |access-date=20 September 2024 |website=RFI |date=19 September 2024 |language=en |agency=Agence France-Presse |archive-date=20 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920172313/https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20240919-jihadist-attack-in-mali-capital-killed-more-than-70-security-sources |url-status=live }} while clashes were also reported at a police station controlling access to the former.

JNIM fighters released videos destroying six aircraft, including two Casa C-295 of the Malian Air Force, and one video showing a militant setting fire to the engine of the presidential jet.{{Cite news |date=2024-09-18 |title=Au Mali, de nombreuses interrogations persistent au lendemain des attaques à Bamako |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2024/09/18/au-mali-de-nombreuses-interrogations-persistent-au-lendemain-des-attaques-a-bamako_6322945_3212.html |access-date=2025-01-30 |language=fr}} In their statement claiming responsibility for the attack, JNIM stated that it destroyed a drone, planes, and several armored vehicles. An aircraft used for humanitarian work by the World Food Programme was also damaged on the ground.{{Cite web |date=20 September 2024 |title=Attack by al-Qaeda linked group in Mali killed more than 70 people |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/20/attack-by-al-qaeda-linked-group-in-mali-killed-more-than-70-people |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920044823/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/20/attack-by-al-qaeda-linked-group-in-mali-killed-more-than-70-people |archive-date=20 September 2024 |access-date=20 September 2024 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |agency=Agence France-Presse}}

In Faladie, government forces quickly quelled the attack, although at the airport clashes lasted for nine hours.{{Cite web |last=Lawal |first=Shola |date=20 September 2024 |title=More than 70 killed in Mali attack: What happened, why it matters |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/20/more-than-70-killed-in-mali-attack-what-happened-why-it-matters |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920221555/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/20/more-than-70-killed-in-mali-attack-what-happened-why-it-matters |archive-date=20 September 2024 |access-date=21 September 2024 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}} Chief of Staff Oumar DIarra visited Faladie later that day and stated all JNIM fighters had been killed or captured.

Casualties

Malian junta authorities did not release a death toll, only acknowledging "some loss of human life."{{Cite web |date=2024-09-18 |title=Mali: incertitudes sur le bilan de la double attaque jihadiste de Bamako |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20240918-mali-incertitudes-sur-le-bilan-de-la-double-attaque-jihadiste-de-bamako |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=RFI |language=fr}} At least twenty people were arrested by Malian forces in connection to the attack, but JNIM stated that the arrested weren't affiliated with them. One of the detainees was lynched and his body burned by a crowd.{{Cite web |last=Melly |first=Paul |date=20 September 2024 |title=Jihadist airport assault leaves Mali's junta rattled |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz04ryym45eo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240921000117/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz04ryym45eo |archive-date=21 September 2024 |access-date=21 September 2024 |website=BBC News |language=en}}

JNIM, in their statement claiming responsibility, stated that the attack left several hundred people dead or wounded and caused "heavy losses to Wagner's mercenaries." JNIM stated around ten fighters took part in the attack and all were killed.

According to civilian and military sources interviewed by RFI, over seventy people were killed during the attacks, including 20 at the air base. 200 Malian gendarmes and soldiers were wounded as well.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Mali: le Jnim a fait plus de 70 morts lors de la double attaque jihadiste du 17 septembre à Bamako |url=https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20240919-mali-le-jnim-li%C3%A9-%C3%A0-al-qa%C3%AFda-a-fait-plus-de-70-morts-lors-de-la-double-attaque-du-17-septembre-%C3%A0-bamako?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=x&utm_source=shorty&utm_slink=rfi.my/AyK6 |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=RFI |language=fr}} Le Monde reported that at the gendarmerie school in Faladie, over sixty gendarme students were killed.{{Cite news |title=Vidéo. Attaque terroriste à Bamako : les images vérifiées par « Le Monde » montrent une opération préparée et meurtrière |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/video/2024/09/18/attaque-terroriste-a-bamako-les-images-verifiees-par-le-monde-montrent-une-operation-preparee-et-meurtriere_6323140_3212.html |access-date=2025-01-30 |work=Le Monde.fr |language=fr-FR}} That same day, Agence France-Presse reported a toll of 77 killed and 255 injured, with one officer stating over a hundred people were killed, with a list of 81 names.{{Cite web |date=2024-09-19 |title=Mali: plus de 70 morts dans les attaques djihadistes à Bamako |url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/mali-plus-de-70-morts-dans-les-attaques-djihadistes-a-bamako-20240919 |access-date=2025-01-30 |website=Le Figaro |language=fr}} Malian daily newspaper Le Soir de Bamako announced the funerals of over fifty student gendarmes. One UN security personnel was injured.{{Cite web |date=19 September 2024 |title=UN chief strongly condemns Mali terrorist attack |url=https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/09/1154551 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926025611/https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/09/1154551 |archive-date=26 September 2024 |access-date=20 September 2024 |website=UN News |language=en}}

At least ten Wagner soldiers were killed in the attack, according to a Malian military source.{{Cite news |date=2024-09-23 |title=Au Mali, l'armée et le Groupe Wagner manœuvrent dans la région de Kidal |url=https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2024/09/23/au-mali-l-armee-et-le-groupe-wagner-man-uvrent-dans-la-region-de-kidal_6330122_3212.html?lmd_medium=al&lmd_campaign=envoye-par-appli&lmd_creation=android&lmd_source=default |access-date=2025-01-30 |language=fr}}

Reactions

The attacks were condemned by multiple countries and organisations including the United Nations, the African Union, ECOWAS, the World Food Programme, Senegal, France and the United Kingdom.{{Cite web |title=Mali: ECOWAS condemns attack on Bamako, reiterates commitment to work for peace |url=https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/mali-la-cedeao-condanna-lattacco-a-bamako-ribadito-limpegno-a-lavorare-per-la-pace/ |access-date=20 September 2024 |website=Agenzia Nova |date=18 September 2024 |language=en |archive-date=20 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920175459/https://www.agenzianova.com/en/news/mali-la-cedeao-condanna-lattacco-a-bamako-ribadito-limpegno-a-lavorare-per-la-pace/ |url-status=live }}

Criticism of the attacks within Mali was limited due to severe restrictions on freedom of expression by the ruling military junta, with the exception of a few media outlets such as the Senegalese newspaper Nouvel Horizon, which wrote that it was "time to apportion blame at all levels". On 19 September, Abdoulaye Coulibaly, the governor of Bamako, ordered the indefinite closure of seven livestock markets in the city for "reasons of public order", raising concerns that it was being used to target members of the Fulani ethnic group, who operate most of the markets and are accused of supporting Islamist militants due to high membership rates in the said groups.{{Cite web |last1=Ahmed |first1=Baba |last2=Banchereau |first2=Mark |date=20 September 2024 |title=Mali officials close livestock markets over suspected links to militants |url=https://apnews.com/article/mali-livestock-market-alqaida-attack-7dd2a6454a7048d66d67963f87a74fc0 |access-date=21 September 2024 |website=Associated Press |language=en |archive-date=20 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240920230428/https://apnews.com/article/mali-livestock-market-alqaida-attack-7dd2a6454a7048d66d67963f87a74fc0 |url-status=live }}

On 24 September, Mali's military leader Assimi Goïta held a meeting with the country's defence establishment to review security arrangements and "adjust strategy". Goita also paid tribute to the victims of the attack, adding that it showed "the imperative need to remain vigilant and maintain an exemplary operational stance in all circumstances".{{Cite web |date=24 September 2024 |title=Mali Junta Chief Reviews Strategy After Massacre By Jihadists |url=https://www.barrons.com/news/mali-junta-chief-reviews-strategy-after-massacre-by-jihadists-e6bad218 |access-date=25 September 2024 |website=Barron's |language=en |archive-date=26 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240926025612/https://www.barrons.com/news/mali-junta-chief-reviews-strategy-after-massacre-by-jihadists-e6bad218 |url-status=live }}

Jean-Herve Jezequel, Sahel project director at the International Crisis Group, said that one possible reason for the attack could be that "the jihadists are trying to send a message to the Malian authorities that they can hit them anywhere and therefore that the big cities must also be protected". He said the militants may want to force Mali to concentrate its resources in areas where more people live and deploy fewer troops in rural areas where the jihadists have their strongholds.

In neighboring Burkina Faso, the government banned the Voice of America from broadcasting in the country for three months starting in October 2024, citing a journalist calling the attack in Bamako "courageous" among other reasons.{{Cite web |title=Burkina Faso: Military Junta suspends Voice of America |url=https://www.africanews.com/2024/10/08/burkina-faso-military-junta-suspends-voice-of-america/ |access-date=8 October 2024 |website=Africanews |date=8 October 2024 |language=en}}