At least 23 people, including civilians and soldiers, were killed during a weekend attack on the military camp in Kati, near Mali’s capital Bamako, according to a hospital source who spoke on condition of anonymity. The incident is part of a series of coordinated assaults launched on Saturday by jihadist and Tuareg separatist groups against the ruling military junta.

The junta’s initial statement on Saturday evening reported 16 wounded among civilians and soldiers, with only limited material damage. However, the revised death toll from the hospital indicates a higher number of casualties than previously disclosed.

These attacks represent the most significant assault within Mali in nearly 15 years, marking an unprecedented alliance between Islamist insurgents and Tuareg separatists. The rebels targeted several strategic junta positions, including areas around Bamako, in a large-scale offensive. The group responsible for part of the offensive includes the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a Tuareg separatist faction, which collaborated with the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate.

Fierce fighting between the Malian army and these rebel factions resulted in the death of Defense Minister Sadio Camara, who was viewed as a key figure in the junta’s recent realignment with Russian paramilitary forces aiding the government.

Following the attacks, junta chief Assimi Goita has not made any public appearances or statements, deepening uncertainty over the government’s stance and response.

Russia’s defense ministry described the situation as “difficult” and noted that the rebel forces, having seized a strategic town in the northern desert region of Mali, appeared to be regrouping. The ongoing instability underscores the complicated security environment in Mali, where government forces are confronting an increasingly coordinated and emboldened opposition amid external military partnerships.