Malian Government Faces Growing Threat from Armed Groups

Mali Experiences Coordinated Attacks by Armed Groups

A series of coordinated attacks carried out by various armed groups across Mali has exposed security vulnerabilities in the country. The attacks, which took place on Saturday and Sunday, targeted military sites, including those in the capital city of Bamako.

According to reports, an al-Qaeda-linked group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), claimed responsibility for the attacks. JNIM stated that it had captured the city of Kidal in the north in a coordinated operation with the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA).

The FLA is a Tuareg-dominated rebel group that has been fighting Mali’s military government and Russian forces in the north, seeking an independent region of Azawad. The two groups have been at odds over control of northern regions.

The attacks resulted in the death of Mali’s Defence Minister Sadio Camara. Mathias Hounkpe, country director for Mali at the International Foundation for Electoral Systems, stated that the attacks highlighted security vulnerabilities in the system.

Since 2012, the security situation in Mali has been marked by separatist groups fighting against the government, instigating coups and killing dozens of people. JNIM is one of the most active armed groups in the region, with approximately 10,000 fighters.

The group was formed in 2017 as a coalition between al-Qaeda’s Saharan branch and Malian armed groups. Its leader, Iyad Ag Ghali, has stated that JNIM aims to expand its presence across West Africa and eliminate government forces and rival armed groups.

In recent years, JNIM has carried out several attacks on military sites and infrastructure, including the Malian army base in Kati and the capital’s airport. The group has also imposed economic and fuel blockades on the country.

The Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) has been fighting Mali’s military government and Russian forces in the north, seeking an independent region of Azawad. The two groups have different goals, with JNIM focusing on imposing its strict interpretation of Islamic law across West Africa.

Source: Al Jazeera