BAMAKO: The leader of Mali’s military government, Assimi Goita, met with Russia’s ambassador on Tuesday, according to a post on his office’s social media account, his first appearance since insurgents launched coordinated attacks over the weekend.

West Africa’s Al Qaeda affiliate and a Tuareg-dominated separatist group hit Mali’s main army base and the area near Bamako’s airport in the attacks on Saturday, while also pushing Russian troops supporting government forces out of Kidal in the north.

The attacks have triggered a scramble for territory across Mali’s vast desert north, raising the prospect of significant gains by armed groups that have shown an increasing willingness to strike neighbouring countries and, analysts say, could eventually set their sights further afield. Mali’s defence minister, Sadio Camara, was killed in Saturday’s attacks. Goita had not been seen until the social media post published on Tuesday afternoon.

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026