Explosions and gunfire go off for major military base in Mali - wetin we know

Reports of explosions and plenti gunfire dey sound for Mali capital, Bamako.

Di incident hapun early on Saturday morning near di Kati military base, one of Mali major military installation.

Residents tell Reuters news agency say dem don carry soldiers go different parts of di city and dem block roads way dey lead to di area.

Mali don face major jihadist insurgency for more dan a decade. Di military, wey enta power for 2021, bin promise to restore security and push back armed groups.

Meanwhile, Mali govment led by Assimi Goïta, don shift security partnerships, afta e move away from Western allies and turn to Russian mercenaries for support.

Dis new attack for di Sahel kontri na di latest, but e neva clear yet who dey behind am.

Mali na one of di six kontris for di Sahel region – Mali, Chad, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Niger and Sudan - wey don all experience coups since 2020.

For 2025, despite im promise to return democracy to im country, Mali military leader, General Goita, secure five-year presidential term from di transitional parliament and e no need to hold elections.

Di extension clear di general to lead di West African kontri until at least 2030, but di kontri still day witness series of attacks.

Mali authority confam new attack

One resident for Mali capital city tell BBC say dem wake to different attacks.

Anoda resident, why dey travel back to Bamako from Ethiopia, tell BBC say all flights into di city dey cancelled for early Saturday.

No clear report yet if di attacks affect di airport.

"We wake up to simultaneous attacks today, including two for Bamako."

Meanwhile, di Malian army don confam di incident say na unidentified "terrorist armed groups" bin target "certain locations and military barracks" for di capital, Bamako, as well as for oda parts of di kontri.

For dia statement why dem release for Saturday morning, di military say di "fight dey go on".

Mali military add say di security forces dey fight wit di armed gang to stop di attacks.

"Our defence and security forces dey currently engage wit di attackers to stop dem"

Mali authorities tell dia residents make dem remain calm and vigilant.

US warn dia citizens as explosions hit Mali

Meanwhile, di United States embassy for Mali don warn dia citizens to take "shelter in place" sake of di reports of explosions and gunfire.

Di alert say di incidents hapun near Kati and Modibo Keita International Airport for di capital, Bamako.

Di embassy also advise pipo make dem "avoid travel to dis destinations until further information dey available."

Ulf Laessing, head of di Sahel Programme for di Konrad Adenauer Foundation for Mali tell BBC say di incident be like di "largest coordinated jihadist attack on Mali for years."

Meanwhile, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger dey among di top ten for di new global terrorism index ranking 2026.

Di report find say Islamic State (IS) and dia affiliates remain as di deadliest terrorist organisation for 2026 as dem dey responsible for about 17 per cent of all attacks worldwide.

Burkina Faso dey second position, Niger dey third while Mali dey fifth position for di terrorism ranking as Israel sidon for tenth position.