Kisii County Senator Richard Onyonka has raised concerns over the safety of Kenyans living in Mali, amid reports of gunfire in the country’s capital Bamako.
Taking to his official X account on Tuesday, September 17, 2024, Onyonka stated that they had received a red alert from Kenyans in Mali.
The vocal lawmaker has called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nairobi to act swiftly and evacuate the Kenyan citizens who might be stuck in Mali.
According to Onyonka, the country should prioritise the safety of its citizens.
“We have just received a red alert from Kenyans who are in Mali. I hope somebody in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nairobi is on standby to airlift those in that country if need be. The safety of Kenyans should be given priority,” Onyanka stated.
We have just received a RED ALERT from Kenyans who are in MALI. I hope somebody is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nairobi is on standby to airlift those in that country if need be. The safety of Kenyans should be given priority.
— Senator Richard Onyonka (@RichardOnyonka_) September 17, 2024
Gunfire in Mali
International news agencies are reporting that gunfire was heard in Mali’s capital on the morning of Tuesday, September 17, 2024.
According to a report by Reuters, gunfire was also heard in the neighbourhood of Banankabougou, with people heading to the mosque for morning prayers forced to turn back as gunshots rendered the air.
Some of the residents who spoke to the news agency said the gunfire came from the direction of the airport, while others said it was coming from next to the gendarmerie.
Military statement
However, the Ministry of Security of Mali has invited its citizens to freely go about their business after the terrorist attempt in certain places in Bamako.
The Mali military said it had thwarted the attack on their military training camp in Mali’s capital.
Gunmen attempted to infiltrate the Faladie gendarme school and a sweep operation kicked off immediately.
The army said the situation was under control and asked people to avoid the area.
“This morning at dawn, key locations in the capital were targeted by terrorist attacks, including the Gendarmerie schools in Faladié. The swift response of the Defense and Security Forces made it possible to repel these attacks. On this occasion, the Minister of Security and Civil Protection reassures the public that the situation is completely under control and urges them to go about their activities freely.
“Finally, the Minister of Security and Civil Protection relies on the vigilance and patriotic spirit of the population, while urging them to report any suspicious movement or noteworthy event to the Defense and Security Forces,” the Mali Military statement reads.
Mali, along with its neighbours Burkina Faso and Niger, has for over a decade battled an insurgency fought by armed groups, including some allied with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group.
