Mali’s military-led government is pushing back against claims that rebel groups are gaining ground, insisting the army still has the full backing of the people. At the end of April, coordinated attacks by jihadists and separatists in northern Mali killed at least 20 soldiers and left rebel forces in control of several towns near the border with Burkina Faso and Niger. The assaults marked some of the deadliest violence in the region this year, prompting the junta to scramble reinforcements and call for calm.

A member of Mali’s National Transitional Council, and leader of an armed political movement allied with the junta, told RFI that despite the losses, the army remains popular. ‘The people still love their army,’ the official said. ‘They understand we’re fighting for the country’s security.’ The government has framed the conflict as a fight against ‘terrorists’ and ‘separatists,’ using the attacks to justify its tight grip on power since seizing control in a 2020 coup.

Why the junta’s claim matters

The junta’s insistence on public support comes as rebel groups like Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) and the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) have expanded their reach in the Sahel. In recent months, they’ve overrun military outposts, looted supplies, and forced local militias to retreat. Analysts say the latest attacks show the rebels are better organized and more aggressive, exploiting gaps in Mali’s weakened armed forces.

The government blames foreign interference for fueling the conflict, pointing to accusations that neighboring countries like Burkina Faso are allowing jihadists to operate across borders. But critics argue Mali’s own military rulers bear responsibility for the crisis. Since the 2020 coup, the junta has delayed elections, sidelined civilian leaders, and leaned heavily on Russian Wagner Group mercenaries for support. Many locals now see the army as the only force preventing total collapse, even if it’s led by generals who refuse to step down.

What happens next

The junta has vowed to retake lost territory, but its track record suggests a tough fight ahead. In 2023, rebels overran the strategic town of Bamba in the Timbuktu Region, and the army only reclaimed it after months of clashes. This time, the rebels seem even stronger, with reports of new weapons and improved coordination between jihadist factions. Meanwhile, the junta’s reliance on Wagner fighters—known for brutal tactics—has drawn international condemnation, further isolating Mali diplomatically.

Ordinary Malians are caught in the middle. Some villagers in the north say they’ve had to flee their homes as rebels tighten their grip, while others in Bamako defend the junta, arguing it’s the only thing keeping the country from falling apart. ‘We have no choice but to support the army,’ said one resident in the capital. ‘If we don’t, who will protect us?’ The government has responded by rolling out propaganda campaigns and threatening harsh punishments for anyone accused of aiding rebels, a sign it’s growing desperate to maintain control.

For now, the junta’s message is clear: the army is still the people’s army, no matter how much ground it’s losing. But with rebel groups on the march and the government’s grip slipping, that claim may not hold for long.

What You Need to Know

  • Source: RFI
  • Published: May 17, 2026 at 07:43 UTC
  • Category: World
  • Topics: #rfi · #france · #world-news · #war · #military · #defense

Read the Full Story

This is a curated summary. For the complete article, original data, quotes and full analysis:

Read the full story on RFI →

All reporting rights belong to the respective author(s) at RFI. GlobalBR News summarizes publicly available content to help readers discover the most relevant global news.

Curated by GlobalBR News · May 17, 2026

🇧🇷 Resumo em Português

O golpe de Estado no Mali completou mais de dois anos, mas as forças armadas mantêm um discurso de legitimidade ao afirmar que a população ainda apoia o Exército, mesmo diante do avanço de grupos jihadistas e separatistas no norte do país. Em um momento de crescente instabilidade na região do Sahel, as declarações dos líderes militares malineses buscam reforçar a ideia de que, apesar das derrotas recentes e da perda de territórios, a população mantém confiança nas forças de segurança.

O contexto é crucial para entender a situação: desde 2020, quando o Exército assumiu o poder após derrubar o então presidente Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, o Mali enfrenta não apenas uma crise política, mas também uma escalada de violência terrorista. Grupos como a Al-Qaeda e o Estado Islâmico expandiram suas áreas de influência, enquanto movimentos separatistas, como os tuaregues, aproveitaram a fragilidade do governo para buscar maior autonomia. Para o Brasil, que tem interesses estratégicos no continente africano — especialmente em segurança e cooperação — a instabilidade no Mali pode ter reflexos na estabilidade regional, afetando fluxos migratórios e até mesmo a segurança de seus cidadãos no exterior.

Ainda não está claro se as forças malinesas conseguirão reverter o quadro, mas uma coisa é certa: a comunidade internacional, incluindo ex-aliados como a França, já reduziram seu apoio militar ao governo de transição, deixando o Mali cada vez mais isolado e dependente de grupos como a Rússia.

🇪🇸 Resumen en Español

La Junta militar de Mali asegura que la población sigue respaldando al ejército a pesar de los avances de grupos yihadistas y separatistas en el norte del país, un mensaje que busca reforzar la legitimidad de los gobernantes tras el golpe de Estado de 2020.

El contexto es clave: Mali arrastra una década de conflicto con insurgencias vinculadas a Al-Qaeda y el Estado Islámico, agravado por la inestabilidad política y la intervención francesa que, tras su retirada en 2022, dejó un vacío que los rebeldes han aprovechado. Para los hispanohablantes, esta situación recuerda a crisis similares en el Sahel, donde la fragilidad estatal y la presencia de actores armados no convencionales generan oleadas de desplazados y profundizan la desconfianza hacia las instituciones, un escenario que podría escalar si no se resuelven las tensiones internas y se recupera el control territorial.