Mali's security situation has deteriorated following a significant attack on an elite police training academy and strategic military sites in Bamako, executed by the Al-Qaeda affiliate Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM). The assault, which included setting fire to the presidential jet and overrunning parts of the airport, resulted in undisclosed casualties, with reports of charred bodies found in the training facility. Diplomatic analysts view this as a critical blow to the ruling junta's credibility, especially after recent claims by military leader Assimi Goita of successes against insurgents. The attack occurred on the anniversary of the gendarmerie's founding, raising questions about the junta's security capabilities. ECOWAS and the European Union condemned the violence, highlighting the strategic implications of such an unprecedented attack in the capital. The situation remains tense as flights at the airport resumed and investigations into the incident continue.