Explosions and gunfire have been heard in Mali’s capital, Bamako, since Tuesday morning, according to an AFP correspondent.

“Gunmen, who have not yet been officially identified, attacked at least one gendarmerie camp in Bamako this morning,” a gendarmerie official said on condition of anonymity.

Gunfire of varying intensity erupted around 5 a.m., punctuated by explosions, an AFP correspondent said. Black smoke billowed from an area near the airport in the morning.

The country has suffered two military coups in August 2020 and May 2021 and is currently ruled by a military junta led by Colonel Assimi Guetta.