The head of the Malian junta Assimi Goïta broke his silence on Tuesday, affirming that the security situation was "under control", three days after deadly attacks in the north of the country. The Jnim jihadists, for their part, threaten to impose a blockade on all roads leading to Bamako, the capital.

Published on: 04/28/2026 - 3:37 p.m. Modified on: 04/29/2026 - 3:15 p.m.

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The head of the Malian junta, Assimi Goïta, affirmed on Tuesday April 28 that the security situation in the country was "under control", three days after unprecedented attacks carried out by armed groups against strategic positions of the junta, more weakened than ever.

Assimi Goïta spoke for the first time since these deadly attacks by jihadists from the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (Jnim) allied with the Tuareg separatists of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), during an address to the nation Tuesday evening broadcast on ORTM, the public channel. After several days of absence and silence, he made his first public appearance the same day, putting an end to much speculation about his fate.

Also read: Jnim-FLA alliance, weakened junta, departure of Russian mercenaries: what is happening in Mali?

Mali faces a critical security situation and is plagued by uncertainty three days after the attacks which left at least 23 civilians and soldiers dead, according to a new report communicated to AFP by a hospital source.

A situation of “extreme seriousness”

“The enemy’s disastrous plan was foiled with the neutralization of a significant number of attackers,” declared the head of the junta, assuring that “the situation [was] under control.” Assimi Goïta, however, recognized a situation of “extreme seriousness”. He called on the population for a “national surge” and to “stand against division and national fracture”. “Mali needs lucidity and not panic,” he insisted.

The absence and silence of the Malian leader have fueled speculation in recent days about his ability to remain in power, while his Minister of Defense, Sadio Camara, one of the main leaders of the junta, was killed during one of the attacks.

Sadio Camara was considered the architect of the political and military rapprochement with Russia in recent years. The junta had expelled the French soldiers in 2022.

Read alsoAfter the death of General Sadio Camara, Russian influence in Mali called into question?

Earlier Tuesday, General Goïta received the Russian ambassador to the country, according to the Malian presidency which published photos of the meeting. Both parties discussed the current situation. The ambassador, Igor Gromyko, "reaffirmed his country's commitment alongside Mali in the fight against terrorism", assuring that Russia would "always be Mali's friend", according to a press release from the presidency.

In a post on social networks, the Russian Defense Ministry estimated that rebels and jihadists were regrouping and that the situation in Mali remained "difficult". The ministry also confirmed that the Africa Corps – paramilitaries sent to support the Malian junta – had had to withdraw from the key town of Kidal, in the north, which armed groups seized last weekend.

The Kremlin also said it wanted the return “as quickly as possible” of stability in this vast Sahelian country, plagued since 2012 by conflicts and jihadist violence.

Jnim threatens Bamako with a blockade

On Tuesday, Jnim threatened to impose a blockade on access routes leading to the Malian capital Bamako, according to a video from a spokesperson.

“As of today, a blockade is imposed on Bamako on all axes,” said one of the Jnim spokespersons, Bina Diarra, in the video. “The only measure of tolerance is granted to those who are already in Bamako to allow them to leave. However, it is now forbidden to go there until further notice,” he said. It was not immediately possible to know whether or not this blockade would really be effective in the coming days.

On Tuesday, the United States Embassy in Bamako wrote on its website that it had “been aware of reports of possible terrorist movements within the city.” It recommends that American nationals self-isolate and avoid all non-essential travel.

The coordinated attacks launched on Saturday cast doubt on the junta's abilities to face threats from armed groups, and undermine its rhetoric, which until now affirmed that its strategy of rupture, its new foreign partnerships and its increased military effort had made it possible to reverse the trend against radical Islamist fighters.

Also read: French mercenaries, 1,000 terrorists killed… Misinformation about jihadist attacks in Mali

A sign of the excitement prevailing in the country, the Malian army has abandoned some of its positions in the Gao region (north), local sources told AFP on Tuesday. Gao is Mali's second military region after the garrison town of Kati, a stronghold of the junta located near Bamako and which was the scene of violent fighting between the army and armed groups.

As for the strategic town of Kidal, it has come under rebel control since this weekend. Kidal had been under the control of rebel groups for several decades before returning to the fold of the Malian state in November 2023, thanks to an army offensive supported by Wagner's fighters.

According to analysts, the strategic goal sought by this alliance between Jnim and FLA would not be the seizure of power in Bamako, but the reconquest of the northern regions of the country.

With AFP

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