Mali’s Prime Minister Abdoulaye Maïga Monday revealed that the coordinated attacks of April 25 were meant to overthrow the current government and seize power.
Maiga said the attackers sought to dismantle the institutions of the Republic, adding that while the army is continuing with its sweep operations and tactical repositioning in the Kidal region.
He was addressing a press conference on the first day of national mourning declared after the death of defense minister General Sadio Camara following the attack on his residence in Kati, near Bamako.
The PM paid tribute to “the illustrious” Camara as well as to the other civilian and military victims, while wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded.
According to him, the simultaneous attacks perpetrated in several locations across the country go beyond mere terrorist acts.
“More than just terrorist incidents, the enemy’s goal was to seize power by dismantling the institutions of the Republic and putting an end to the Transition process,” he declared.
PM Maiga believes these offensives aimed at three main objectives namely: sowing fear, breaking national cohesion, and weakening the authorities’ resolve.
“We were not afraid, we did not doubt, and we will never be afraid,” he insisted, assuring citizens that national cohesion would be strengthened and that collective commitment would spike.
He attributed the response to “the selflessness of the valiant armed and security forces,” praising their professionalism as well as the leadership of President Assimi Goïta.
According to him, this response made it possible to neutralise “hundreds of terrorists” throughout the country.
The prime minister acknowledged, however, that the asymmetric nature of the threat necessitates a constant adaptation of the military deployment.
“Learning from the terrorist incidents of April 25 is an obligation,” he stated, promising to strengthen the factors contributing to success and implement the necessary corrective measures to improve security.
On Sunday evening, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, General Oumar Diarra, had already indicated that more than 200 combatants had been neutralised following simultaneous attacks on several locations, including Kidal, Gao, Mopti, Sévaré, Bamako, and Kati.
He also announced a “readjustment of the deployment” in the Kidal region, with a repositioning of forces in Anefis, while maintaining the presence of the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) in the area.
For its part, the Russian Africa Corps stated that it had withdrawn from Kidal with the Malian army as part of a joint decision with the Malian authorities, following the priority evacuation of the wounded and heavy equipment.
The attacks were claimed by the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, and by the Front for the Liberation of Azawad (FLA), the new name of the former CMA.
Faced with the crisis, the prime minister also called on Malians to remain united and reject any form of outside manipulation.
“The fight for our dignity and honor is non-negotiable. We will wage it until the total eradication of terrorism and the building of a new Mali,” he concluded.
MD/ac/Sf/fss/as/APA