Assimi Goita, Mali’s transitional president, has declared that operations will persist until all parties involved in the April 25 attacks are subdued and enduring security is reinstated nationwide. The attacks, characterized by Goita as “complex, coordinated and simultaneous,” targeted multiple regions including Bamako, Kati, Mopti, Gao, and Kidal. The swift and professional response of the defence and security forces has dealt a significant blow to the assailants, aiming to instigate widespread violence in the affected areas.
The security deployment has been strengthened, with ongoing sweeping, search, intelligence-gathering, and security operations to maintain control over the situation. Goita also honored Mali’s Defence Minister Gen. Sadio Camara, acknowledging his demise as a profound loss for the nation. Expressing condolences to the bereaved families and solidarity with the injured, Goita instructed the government to provide necessary support to victims, affected families, and the wounded.
Describing the attacks as part of a broader destabilization scheme orchestrated by terrorist groups and their supporters, Goita urged Malians to remain vigilant and trust the defence and security forces. He cautioned against succumbing to rumors, panic messages, or manipulation, emphasizing the potential weaponization of disinformation by terrorists. Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maiga echoed Goita’s sentiments, emphasizing that the attacks were not isolated incidents but a strategic move to seize power and disrupt the country’s transition process.
Maiga highlighted the terrorist attacks’ aim to instill fear, sow doubt, and weaken national unity, objectives that have been thwarted. Under the transitional president’s leadership, Mali’s military has responded forcefully, neutralizing numerous terrorists nationwide. Acknowledging the evolving nature of terrorist threats, Maiga stressed the need for continuous adaptation of security measures, drawing lessons from the April 25 attacks to enhance security effectively.
