Shots have been heard at an army base in Kati, just outside the capital, amid an ongoing political crisis in Mali, according to media agencies with presence in the West African country.

The situation remains unclear, but news of the gunshots quickly sparked fears of a possible coup attempt.

According to DW, gunfire was heard at an army base near Mali's capital Bamako on Tuesday, sparking fears of a possible mutiny in the conflict-torn country.

Soldiers took up arms at the military base in Kati, a town 15 kilometers (nine miles) from Bamako, and began arresting senior military officers.

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Tuesday said soldiers had launched a "mutiny" and urged them to immediately return to their barracks.

"This mutiny comes at a time when, for several months now, ECOWAS has been taking initiatives and conducting mediation efforts with all the Malian parties," the 15-nation bloc said in a statement. 

A 'volatile' situation

Sources told DW that Colonel Sadio Camara could be behind the military uprising.

DW also learned that several high-ranking politicians and officials have been arrested, including the Minister of Finance Abdoulaye Daffe and the chief of staff of the National Guard.

The national radio station ORTM was evacuated. According to ORTM employees, a column of possible putschists is said to be on its way to the station but other sources said some of the suspected mutineers had been placed under custody.

A Malian military spokesman confirmed that gunshots had been fired at the base in Kati, but said he did not have any further information. There has been no official statement from the office of the president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta.

Keïta came to power in 2013 and won a second term as president in 2018.