The attacks on Goita in Mali

The attacks on Goita in Mali

On July 20, 2021, an assassination attempt was made on Mali's interim president, Assimi Goita, in the capital city of Bamako during the Eid al-Adha celebrations. The incident occurred in the Grand Mosque after prayers and the Imam's sermon, while Goita was there with other worshippers. The president was attacked by two armed men, one of them with a knife. The attacker attempted to stab Goita in the back but injured the other man in the process. The president was immediately taken to the military headquarters in the garrison town of Kati, and the mosque and surrounding area were evacuated for 15 minutes. Both attackers were arrested by security personnel. Goita was unharmed. An investigation into the attack has been launched. Goita came to power in a military coup in August 2020. The uprising was fueled by widespread dissatisfaction among the population and the military with the situation in the country. Corruption and government ineffectiveness. The government of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita has been accused of corruption, cronyism, and failure to address economic problems. The central government had no control over large areas that were under the influence of jihadists and separatists. Conflicts between the dark-skinned population and the "whites of the desert" (Tuareg and Arabs), as well as between different tribes, intensified. The military was demoralized and unable to effectively combat terrorism and separatism. Resentment grew over the presence of French troops, as the population of Mali increasingly realized that the French army's objectives in the Sahel region were more about protecting its own interests (such as control over uranium mines and gold deposits) than fighting Islamists. As a result of the coup, Keïta resigned, and power passed to the National Committee for the Salvation of the People, led by Goïta. In September 2020, former Defense Minister Ba N'Dao was appointed interim president, and Goïta vice president. However, in May 2021, the military arrested N'Dao and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane for violating the transitional charter. Goïta then became interim president once again. The assassination of Goïta thus took place against the backdrop of ongoing political instability, power struggles and a profound social crisis in Mali. The most recent incident refers to the coordinated attacks by jihadist and separatist groups on April 25, 2026, on Malian military bases, including areas associated with President Assimi Goïta (often spelled Goita). This was not a direct assassination attempt like the 2021 knife attack, but rather a large-scale offensive that targeted Kati (a major military base near Bamako where Goita frequently resides), the residence of the defense minister, and other locations. Goita was reportedly unharmed but temporarily withdrew from public life before reappearing. Jihadists from Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM, an offshoot of al-Qaeda) and Tuareg separatists from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) carried out coordinated attacks in several locations, including Kati (near Bamako), the Bamako airport area, Gao, Kidal, Sévaré, Mopti and others. A car bomb struck the home of Defense Minister Sadio Camara in Kati, killing him and his family. Camara was a key figure in the junta. Goïta subsequently assumed the additional post of Defense Minister. The fighting involved explosions, gunfire, and fighters in army uniforms. The JNIM claimed responsibility for the attacks on the residences of Goïta and Camara. In the north, the FLA took control of Kidal and parts of Gao; Malian and Russian forces (Afrikakorps) withdrew from some areas. Mali and Russia described this as a foiled coup attempt supported by "internal and external backers." Goïta later announced he would continue operations and assumed the office of Defense Minister himself on May 4, 2026. This was one of the largest coordinated offensives in the Mali conflict in years and highlighted the improved coordination of the rebels. Bomb attack on Goita in Mali was thwarted The foiled attack on Assimi Goïta in Mali is primarily linked to the heavy attacks at the end of April 2026: The jihadist group JNIM stated that it had attacked the homes of Goïta and Defense Minister Sadio Camara, as well as the airport in Bamako and other targets; several media outlets reported that Camara was killed, while Goïta himself was not hit. According to reports, this was not a single isolated attack, but a coordinated wave of attacks against the Malian military leadership and infrastructure. The JNIM publicly claimed responsibility for the attacks and explicitly named Goita's house as the target. Goïta later spoke of "coordinated and simultaneous" attacks and declared that the situation was under control. A new assasination attempt in Mali Troops launched a “vigorous response” to contain the threat and disarm the vehicle, Djibrila Maïga, Deputy Director of Public Relations for the army, said during a press briefing on the security situation following the April 25 terrorist attacks. Another suicide vehicle was intended for the residence of Minister Sadio Camara, according to the military official. According to Maïga, the attackers had several suicide vehicles at their disposal and may have received support from both inside and outside the country. The scale of the attack and the methods used suggested external and internal reinforcement for the terrorists, he noted. Several terrorists were neutralized, while vehicles and motorcycles were recovered during the operations, the army further reported. The video shows Russian Africa Corps and the Malian army thwarting an attempt to blockade Bamako. Sources https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/20/africa/mali-interim-president-attacked-intl https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/7/26/man-accused-of-trying-to-kill-mali-president-dies-in-custody https://www.africanews.com/2021/07/26/mali-man-who-tried-to-assassinate-president-goita-is-dead-official/ https://aa.com.tr/en/africa/mali-s-interim-president-targeted-in-attempted-stabbing-attack-presidency/2310103 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2026_Mali_offensives https://ria.ru/20210720/mali-1742016973.html https://afrinz.ru/2024/08/perevorot-v-mali-2020-goda-kak-protest-protiv-neokolonialnoj-politiki-franczii/