Three cities, three camps came under fire: Kidal, Gao and Ménaka. Rumors are circulating about Tessalit, but Barkhane is not confirming and local sources deny the information. As for the three first-mentioned localities, the attacks all took place between 5:30 and 7 a.m. Monday. There are no casualties and very little material damage to report: the fire fell short of targets, nearly everywhere.

In Kidal, two shells out of eight fired struck the camp that Barkhane shares with the United Nations Mission. With damage in the UN portion of the camp still being assessed. Beyond that, shells or rockets were fired from a distance and without success. But obviously, the various security actors and military personnel contacted this morning note the coordination of these attacks, perceived as a bad sign.

Quick claim of responsibility

It took only a few hours for the Group to Support Islam and Muslims, GSIM, affiliated with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, to claim responsibility through one of its usual channels for the fire in Kidal, Gao and Ménaka. GSIM named their target explicitly: "The French army of the crusaders."

Such immediate claim of responsibility is not the norm. What seems to clearly demonstrate the intent: to attack and strike, of course, but above all to send a message to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb's number one enemy, France. The number one enemy in the north of the country since in the center, it is Malian security forces and civilians who are targeted each week. With unfortunately much higher tolls.