A Malian airline has temporarily suspended flights to the northern town of Gao and the central city of Mopti following renewed insecurity after coordinated weekend attacks that have further destabilised the country.
The suspension comes after Islamist militants and Tuareg separatist fighters launched a major offensive on Saturday, targeting strategic towns near the capital, Bamako, in what analysts describe as the largest coordinated assault in nearly 15 years.
The attacks saw the two former rivals reportedly unite against Mali’s ruling military junta and its Russian-backed forces. Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed during two days of fighting, according to government sources.
The Tuareg separatists, operating under the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), claimed control of the northern town of Kidal, while clashes were also reported in Gao, Sevare, and Kati on the outskirts of Bamako.
In a statement, Sky Mali said it was halting operations to Gao and Mopti, stressing that passenger and crew safety remained its top priority.
“The safety of our passengers, our crews and our operations remains our top priority,” the airline said.
Security remains tense across affected regions, with reports of explosions and drone activity near Bamako’s airport area on Monday night and Tuesday morning. The cause of the blasts has not been confirmed.
Central and northern Mali have faced persistent instability for more than a decade, with the latest violence raising fresh concerns over the junta’s ability to maintain control amid growing armed opposition.
