Mali alleges military officers collaborated with jihadists in attacks against government

Authorities in Mali say some members of the military collaborated with jihadist and separatist fighters behind a wave of coordinated attacks described as among the most significant in more than a decade.

In a statement read on state television, prosecutors at the Bamako military court said investigations had uncovered "strong evidence" implicating both active and former officers in the planning and execution of the assaults. 

The statement also alleged links to political figures, including exiled politician Oumar Mariko.

The developments come as separatist forces from the Azawad Liberation Front claimed they had taken control of a key military base in the northern town of Tessalit. The group said the capture followed the withdrawal of Malian troops and allied Russian fighters, marking another blow to the country's military leadership.

The attacks over the weekend, involved near-simultaneous strikes across multiple locations, including the main international airport in the capital, Bamako. Fighters reportedly used motorcycles and pickup trucks to carry out the raids.

The offensive was jointly launched by the separatists and the al-Qaeda-linked group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, highlighting growing coordination among armed groups operating in the Sahel.

The violence has further exposed the fragility of security in Mali, which has been under military rule since a 2020 coup. The country continues to grapple with a long-running insurgency that has spread across the wider Sahel region, a zone widely regarded as a global epicenter of extremist activity.

The latest escalation has dealt a setback to the ruling military government, coming amid reports of territorial losses in the north and mounting pressure over its handling of the conflict.