Mali faced a wave of coordinated terrorist attacks on Saturday morning, as armed groups launched near-simultaneous assaults on multiple cities, including the capital, Bamako. The attacks, which targeted military installations and strategic points, represent a major escalation of violence in the country in recent months. The Malian armed forces described the attackers as “unidentified armed terrorist groups” targeting “points and barracks” in the capital and beyond. The chief of staff of the Armed Forces confirmed that the attacks began in the early hours of April 25 and were met with an immediate and forceful response. “Armed terrorist groups attempted attacks in certain cities of the country. They immediately suffered severe setbacks thanks to the professionalism and commitment of the FAMa,” the statement read.   submitted by   /u/Bakyumu [link]   [comments]