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What’s behind the latest escalating violence in Mali?
May 4, 2026
Posted 1 day ago by
Tuareg separatists and armed groups linked to Al-Qaeda have seized key towns across Mali, including Tessit and Kidal, forcing Russian paramilitaries to withdraw. Coordinated attacks on 25 April also targeted a major garrison near the capital, Bamako, killing Defence Minister Sadio Camara. The groups now claim to have laid siege to Bamako and are advancing towards Gao, Menaka and Timbuktu.
Malian authorities are investigating soldiers suspected of involvement in the attacks, as the conflict spreads into Burkina Faso and Niger. Al Jazeera's Laura Khan explains. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://X.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile #Mali #MaliUnrest #AssimiGoita #MaliFighting #SahelCrisis #JNIM #Tuareg #WestAfrica #MaliMilitaryGovernment #MaliJunta #MaliSecurityCrisis #AlQaeda #Timbuktu #MaliConflict
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