JNIM (Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin) Continues to Expand in Mali and Burkina Faso

Abstract

This study examines the expanding operations of Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimeen (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated coalition, in central and southern Mali and northern Burkina Faso. Through detailed analysis of recent sophisticated attacks by the Macina Liberation Front (MLF), a key JNIM faction, the paper reveals JNIM’s enhanced tactical capabilities and strategic intent to extend its influence. It highlights the coalition’s tactical innovation, including significant assaults and use of suicide bombings, which underline the growing challenge JNIM poses to regional security and the efficacy of state and international response mechanisms. The research also explores the socio-political impact of JNIM’s activities on local communities, the ongoing conflict with the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), and the dynamics of regional military strategies against jihadist threats. The evolving tactics of JNIM, alongside its recruitment and propaganda efforts, are critically analyzed to assess future threats and propose countermeasures. By consolidating insights into JNIM’s operational expansion and its implications, this paper contributes to understanding the complexities of counter-terrorism in the Sahel, highlighting the urgent need for effective strategies to combat the growing jihadist insurgency.