canary islanders mali attacks hotel

Canary Islanders trapped in hotel as Mali attacks unfold

Canary Islanders shelter in hotel as fighting rages in Mali

The Malian army has confirmed that armed groups launched a coordinated offensive yesterday against several military barracks in the capital, Bamako, and other locations across the country, particularly in the north. “Fighting is ongoing and we urge the population to remain calm and vigilant,” the Malian army general staff announced. “Our forces are currently working to neutralise the attackers,” it added.

Among those caught up in the violence is a group of Canary Islanders who were in Bamako for Vis a Vis, a Casa África music event exploring creativity on the neighbouring continent. The group includes Juan Salam, a music programmer; Nicolás Castellano, a Canarian journalist for Cadena SER; and Joan Tusell, Casa África’s head of communications. All are safe and well, remaining inside their hotel as a precaution and under the continuous watch of staff from the Spanish embassy in Mali. The only signs of the fighting they heard were two explosions in the early hours of yesterday (Saturday). Several of them are scheduled to return to the Canary Islands today (Sunday).

Al Qaeda affiliate claims responsibility

Al Qaeda’s affiliate in the Sahel has claimed responsibility for the attacks and announced it had taken control of the strategic northern city of Kidal. In a statement, the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM) said it had targeted the offices of President Assimi Goita and Defence Minister Sadio Camara, as well as Bamako’s international airport. It also claimed to have seized the central city of Mopti, along with most military positions in Sévaré (central Mali) and Gao (northern Mali).

The group stated that operations in the north of the country were carried out with the participation of its “partners” from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), an umbrella group of nationalist factions demanding independence for the Azawad region in northern Mali. The FLA also claimed responsibility for the capture of Kidal. JNIM said this “victory” was the result of coordinated work with the FLA against the Malian army and its Russian allies from the African Corps, expressing a desire to push Russia out of the conflict and work towards building a “balanced and effective future relationship”.

Russian involvement in the conflict

In recent years, French and international anti-terrorist forces withdrew from Mali at the request of the country’s ruling junta. Russia subsequently became involved in the fight against jihadism in the country, first through the private security group Wagner and later through the African Corps, a paramilitary group closely directed by the Russian defence ministry.

Azawad separatists declare ‘battle of liberation’

FLA spokesman Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane was the first to announce the attack in the north through a brief message on his Facebook page, declaring that “the battle of liberation has begun” to take control of the Azawad area, which covers approximately 60 per cent of the country’s territory. Just a few hours later, he reported the capture of Kidal. In consecutive statements, the Malian Armed Forces general staff said “armed terrorist groups” – without naming them – had tried to attack several cities but suffered “immediate setbacks” in the face of the army’s “professional response”, resulting in the “neutralisation” of hundreds of their members.

Background of instability

Mali has been governed by a military junta since 2020, in a context marked by instability and the severe violence the country has suffered for more than a decade. This violence is driven by northern separatists demanding the Azawad region, as well as jihadist groups affiliated with the Islamic State and Al Qaeda.

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