Mali leader says situation under control in first speech since attacks

The leader of Mali’s military government, Assimi Goita, on Tuesday made his first public appearance since insurgents launched coordinated attacks over the weekend, vowing in a televised address to “neutralize” those responsible, Reuters reported.

West Africa’s al Qaeda affiliate and a Tuareg-dominated separatist group hit Mali’s main army base and the ‌area near Bamako’s airport in the attacks on Saturday, while also pushing Russian troops supporting government forces out of the strategic town of Kidal in the north.

Mali’s defence minister, Sadio Camara, was killed in Saturday’s attacks.

Goita had not been seen until his office on Tuesday afternoon published pictures of him meeting the Russian ambassador, Igor Gromyko.

The two men “discussed the current situation and the strong partnership between Bamako and Moscow”, and Gromyko “reaffirmed his country’s commitment to supporting Mali in the ⁠fight against international terrorism,” Reuters reported citing a readout from Goita’s office.

Goita also visited a hospital where people wounded in Saturday’s attacks were receiving treatment, and expressed condolences to Camara’s family, his office said.

He then delivered a brief address on the evening news in which he declared that “the situation is under control” and said operations would continue until they achieved “the complete neutralization of the groups involved” in the attacks.

In a video message distributed on Tuesday, a spokesperson for the al Qaeda affiliate, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), boasted about Saturday’s violence and described it as revenge for drone strikes and other attacks perpetrated by Malian forces.

Russia said ‌on Tuesday ⁠that jihadi and separatist forces in Mali were regrouping after Moscow’s forces helped thwart what it described as a coup attempt on Saturday, preventing insurgents from seizing key facilities including the presidential palace.

“The enemy has not abandoned its aggressive intentions and is currently regrouping,” the Russian Defence Ministry said in a statement.

Russian forces were conducting active reconnaissance operations to destroy insurgent field camps and stood ready to repel further attacks, it added.

Mali turned to Russia for support after expelling French and U.N. troops following coups in 2020 and 2021.

Africa Corps, a paramilitary group controlled by Russia’s Defence Ministry, confirmed on Monday that its forces ‌had withdrawn from the northern town of Kidal in Mali after fierce fighting there.