The escalation of terrorism in the Sahel region—as evidenced in late April 2026 by the extensive terrorist offensive launched by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an affiliate of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), against several Malian cities including its capital—fuels a messianic vision for
Terrorism, human trafficking, migration, propaganda: the effects of the Sahel crisis extend far beyond Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso. Europe can no longer treat this region as an external arena. Bamako, the capital of Mali, is not the only target of the most recent onslaught
The security situation, reality, and its local and regional ramifications on the African continent are worse than they have ever been. Radical Islamic organizations are at their peak: Alongside a vast network of affiliates of the Islamic State (ISIS), stretching from West Africa to Central
Together with the Tuaregs of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), the jihadists of JNIM (“Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen”) are on the rise in Mali, in a remarkable position of power against a weaker military junta, and are closer than ever to taking Bamako, the country’s
On April 25, 2026, a number of military locations, including Kati, the capital Bamako, Modibo-Keïta/Sénou International Airport, Gao, Kidal, Sévaré, and Mopti, were the target of coordinated strikes by the JNIM, the independent Tuareg rebels in Mali. The Malian army claims to have regained control
In Mali, the JNIM (Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin), led by Iyad Ag Ghali, who is linked to al-Qaeda, has been besieging the towns of Kayes and Nioro in the Sahel, in the southwest of the country, since September 3.[1] Passengers have been abducted, and the
Official circles in Mali’s capital, Bamako, are neither confirming nor disputing the departure of the Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group (P.M.C.) after three and a half years of presence. [1] As is well known, the Mali military junta has always denied that foreign mercenaries are
Abstract This paper investigates the decline of France’s colonial influence in Africa, focusing on its extensive military involvement in the Sahel from the late 2000s through operations such as Sabre, Serval, Épervier, Takuba, and Barkhane. Despite initial optimism, France’s intervention aimed at combating radical Islamic
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
This analysis delves into the unfolding conflict in Mali, with a particular focus on the imminent confrontation in the city of Kidal. As the Malian army, in collaboration with the ‘Wagner Force’ militia, advances toward Kidal, this study seeks to analyze the regional implications and
