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TerrorismMali

Mali witnesses fresh suicide attack at military base

September 8, 2023

Authorities are yet to give details on any casualties from the attack, which put German soldiers nearby on high alert. Just one day prior, two assaults by suspected jihadis killed dozens of people.

https://p.dw.com/p/4W6tU
An aerial view of the Niger River in the northern Gao region of Mali
It's the second attack in the Gao region in two daysImage: Joerg Boethling/IMAGO

A military installation in restive northern Mali was hit by a suicide attack on Friday, the Malian military said.

The latest violence comes after two deadly suspected jihadi attacks occurred in the West African country a day prior, leaving 64 people dead in total. 

What do we know so far?

"Response and evacuation in progress," the armed forces said about the incident in the Gao region. 

Malian authorities have not yet provided any information on casualties from the "complex" attack.  

The attack reportedly occurred at the airport area of the military base.

An employee of the airport area told AFP news agency that two vehicles loaded with explosives launched the attack, which was accompanied by gunfire.

German news agency DPA, citing a Bundeswehr spokesperson, said hundreds of German soldiers stationed nearby have moved to protective facilities due to the attack. 

The suicide attack happened not far from an area where 850 German military personnel are positioned. 

No German troops are said to have been harmed.   

Sahel - Inside the resistance

Mali experiences wave of violence

A military position was assaulted on Thursday in Bamba, also in Gao. A passenger vessel on the Niger River not far from the city of Timbuktu was also attacked.    

Mali is facing a tough security challenge from Islamist groups tied to al-Qaida and the so-called "Islamic State" (IS). The West African nation has also witnessed three military coups since 2012, contributing to the country's instability.  

wd/sms (AP, AFP, dpa)