Mali's army said that it was fighting "terrorist groups" that had attacked army barracks in the capital Bamako and other areas in the African nation.
Witnesses reported gunfire in several cities in the military-ruled state and an army statement said: "Terrorist groups, not yet identified, early this morning targeted certain points and barracks in the capital and the interior."
Gunfire rocked several districts of the junta-ruled west African country of Mali on Saturday, including Kati, the home of military ruler General Assimi Goita, witnesses and a security source told AFP earlier today.
Mali's military leaders took power after coups in 2020 and 2021, vowing to restore security in a country where militants control large areas of the north and centre and stage frequent attacks on the army and civilians.
The central Sahel country is battling insurgencies by the West Africa affiliates of Al Qaeda and the Daesh terror groups. It is also grappling with a much longer history of Tuareg-led rebellion in the north.
The government led by Assimi Goita has leaned on Russian mercenaries for security support while initially spurring defence cooperation with Western countries.
Recently, it has pursued closer ties with the US.
Reuters reported in March that Mali and the US were nearing a deal that would allow Washington to resume flying aircraft and drones over the West African country's airspace to gather intelligence on armed groups.
