JUANA SUMMERS, HOST:
A new wave of violence is threatening one of the deadliest regions in the world. In Mali, armed jihadists and separatist rebels launched attacks over the weekend on the capital and several cities. The West African country has grappled with insecurity for more than a decade. And in 2020, a military junta seized power in a coup. In recent years, the junta has turned to Russian-backed mercenaries for support. NPR's Africa correspondent Emmanuel Akinwotu brings us this report. And a warning to our listeners - you will hear explosions and gunfire in this piece.
EMMANUEL AKINWOTU, BYLINE: The makings of the most daring and consequential offensive in over a decade.
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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: (Yelling, inaudible).
AKINWOTU: Reports of widely circulated footage show Tuareg separatist fighters carrying out coordinated attacks on Malian army positions over the past few days in areas long considered stronghold of the state. A renewed partnership with al-Qaida-linked militants, JNIM, has seen wave after wave of armed attacks on cities in the West African country, including the capital, Bamako.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: (Non-English language spoken).
AKINWOTU: The militants struck the airport and a heavily guarded town just north of the capital, where Mali's Moscow-backed junta were based. Mali's second most powerful figure, the defense minister, General Sadio Camara, was killed, along with his wife and grandchildren. In other footage released on social media accounts linked to the rebels, militants celebrated the takeover of the key northern city Kidal.
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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #3: Ahoo-woo (ph). (Non-English language spoken).
AKINWOTU: And after negotiating a humiliating retreat, trucks of Malian soldiers and Russian fighters were seen leaving a city they were there to defend. The former Wagner mercenaries, now a Russian defense unit called Africa Corps, have been in Mali since military leaders cut ties with former colonial ruler France. French forces helped subdue a major rebellion more than a decade ago but were forced out after years where insecurity deteriorated. U.N. peacekeeping forces were also asked by the junta to leave. But insecurity has continued to worsen.
IBRAHIM YAHAYA: With regard to the Russians, clearly, this is a major setback for them.
AKINWOTU: Ibrahim Yahaya is the deputy project director for the Sahel at Crisis Group. He says this retreat could have consequences for Russia's ambitions in Africa.
YAHAYA: Many people will be now asking the questions whether the Russians will be able to provide the kind of support that many African countries who were struggling with insurgencies are looking for.
AKINWOTU: In one of Africa's largest countries, nearly twice the size of Texas, this offensive is unprecedented, Ibrahim says. Tuareg rebels are fighting for an independent state in the north, while al-Qaida-linked jihadists aim to take over the country and impose a hard-line interpretation of Islamic law.
YAHAYA: So these two groups have two separate objectives, but they're fighting the same enemy, which is the Malian government.
AKINWOTU: As the offensive gathers pace, the Malian army's loose grip on swathes of the country is weakening. And other actors are exploiting the turmoil, including Islamic state-linked fighters who've launched new attacks. And on Tuesday, the jihadists, JNIM, increased the pressure.
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UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #4: (Non-English language spoken).
AKINWOTU: They announced a new blockade on Mali's capital months after an earlier fuel blockade on the city almost crippled it. The U.S. consulate warned citizens there to stay inside amid reports that militants were seen roaming around the capital, sparking fears in Bamako for what comes next. Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR News, Lagos.
(SOUNDBITE OF LUPE FIASCO SONG, "PALACES") Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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