Another day, another Russian losses in Mali. This month is getting increasingly awful for the Russian contingent.Not yet the same scale as it was in April or July, but JNIM's new creeping strategy in Central Mali is something Bamako and Russia are struggling heavily against #Mali
September 22, 2026 at 9:01 PM
Another day, another Russian losses in Mali. This month is getting increasingly awful for the Russian contingent.Not yet the same scale as it was in April or July, but JNIM's new creeping strategy in Central Mali is something Bamako and Russia are struggling heavily against #Mali
Military rulers order two-week closure for schools, universities as JNIM's fuel blockade causes further disruptions.
Mali shuts schools as fuel blockade imposed by fighters paralyses country
Military rulers order two-week closure for schools, universities as JNIM's fuel blockade causes further disruptions.
bit.ly
October 27, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Military rulers order two-week closure for schools, universities as JNIM's fuel blockade causes further disruptions.
I an parroting myself quite often (feeling like an old man atp) but people underestimate how much of an obstacle is the Islamic State to JNIM's strategy in Mali. I personally think Bamako would have fallen at the very last last year, if not for al-Qaeda fearful of ISGS sword.
September 23, 2026 at 3:14 PM
I an parroting myself quite often (feeling like an old man atp) but people underestimate how much of an obstacle is the Islamic State to JNIM's strategy in Mali. I personally think Bamako would have fallen at the very last last year, if not for al-Qaeda fearful of ISGS sword.
Russian forces, arriving to reclaim Dioura were forced to quickly escape again under the threat of JNIM's presence and their behaviour is currently sparking an outrage in Mali - retreating, they burnt down the remains of the camp including multiple corpses of slain soldiers.
September 20, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Russian forces, arriving to reclaim Dioura were forced to quickly escape again under the threat of JNIM's presence and their behaviour is currently sparking an outrage in Mali - retreating, they burnt down the remains of the camp including multiple corpses of slain soldiers.
5. JNIM's use of Starlink is just the latest instance of insurgent groups and other criminal actors adopting the technology. Last year, in Northeast Nigeria, government forces recovered a Starlink kit from members of Boko Haram.
June 17, 2025 at 1:42 PM
5. JNIM's use of Starlink is just the latest instance of insurgent groups and other criminal actors adopting the technology. Last year, in Northeast Nigeria, government forces recovered a Starlink kit from members of Boko Haram.
JNIM's ops for the month of Rabi'i al-Akhir
November 15, 2024 at 12:12 PM
JNIM's ops for the month of Rabi'i al-Akhir
Jafar Dicko, Jnim's boss in Burkina Faso gave an extraordinary rich interview at the end of July, released in a video in fulfulde then in writing, in Arabic (with some changes)
August 11, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Jafar Dicko, Jnim's boss in Burkina Faso gave an extraordinary rich interview at the end of July, released in a video in fulfulde then in writing, in Arabic (with some changes)
It's clear, that JNIM carefully crafts its messaging, is inspired by what transpires in Syria and how Assad was deposed. They celebrated the fall of Assad and congratulated Syria in December 2024.
But, again, they are not HTS, and JNIM's leadership is not Ahmad al-Sharaa.
But, again, they are not HTS, and JNIM's leadership is not Ahmad al-Sharaa.
April 25, 2026 at 7:39 PM
It's clear, that JNIM carefully crafts its messaging, is inspired by what transpires in Syria and how Assad was deposed. They celebrated the fall of Assad and congratulated Syria in December 2024.
But, again, they are not HTS, and JNIM's leadership is not Ahmad al-Sharaa.
But, again, they are not HTS, and JNIM's leadership is not Ahmad al-Sharaa.
Glad to see that my CTCWP piece about the evolution of the conflict in Mali & the Sahel region is featured on Small Wars. An outlet that I read since my early university years
smallwarsjournal.com/2026/05/11/j...
smallwarsjournal.com/2026/05/11/j...
JNIM's Mali Offensive and the Limits of Counterterrorism in the Sahel
Wassim Nasr's CTC Sentinel analysis of JNIM's April 2026 Mali offensive, the FLA alliance, and the strategic case for counterinsurgency in the Sahel.
smallwarsjournal.com
May 12, 2026 at 7:23 AM
Glad to see that my CTCWP piece about the evolution of the conflict in Mali & the Sahel region is featured on Small Wars. An outlet that I read since my early university years
smallwarsjournal.com/2026/05/11/j...
smallwarsjournal.com/2026/05/11/j...
Keep in mind, that the same people cathegorically denying JNIM is able to seize/rule, earlier this year didn't believe JNIM exists in Western Mali.
Last year they were aghast seeing JNIM stage an operation in Bamako.
Two years ago they questioned JNIM's AQ connection.
Last year they were aghast seeing JNIM stage an operation in Bamako.
Two years ago they questioned JNIM's AQ connection.
November 13, 2025 at 12:51 PM
Keep in mind, that the same people cathegorically denying JNIM is able to seize/rule, earlier this year didn't believe JNIM exists in Western Mali.
Last year they were aghast seeing JNIM stage an operation in Bamako.
Two years ago they questioned JNIM's AQ connection.
Last year they were aghast seeing JNIM stage an operation in Bamako.
Two years ago they questioned JNIM's AQ connection.
Hamadoun Kouffa, the boss of JNIM's Katiba Macina, just reiterated JNIM's intention to bring Bamako and the junta to their knees. Coming days/weeks will be critical as shortages of gas get more severe in Mali's capital
October 20, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Hamadoun Kouffa, the boss of JNIM's Katiba Macina, just reiterated JNIM's intention to bring Bamako and the junta to their knees. Coming days/weeks will be critical as shortages of gas get more severe in Mali's capital
By doing this, they completely abandon surveillance and operations against what should be the priority - JNIM's entrenching in western Mali and waging permanent warfare in Central part of the country.
July 22, 2025 at 12:55 PM
By doing this, they completely abandon surveillance and operations against what should be the priority - JNIM's entrenching in western Mali and waging permanent warfare in Central part of the country.
Do you think, something like this happening today, is possible without JNIM's long supply lines that reach Nigeria and Benin foe motor parts, Ghana for small arms and gold smuggling, Togo for front companies delving in pastoral economy? No, it's not possible.
April 26, 2026 at 8:58 AM
Do you think, something like this happening today, is possible without JNIM's long supply lines that reach Nigeria and Benin foe motor parts, Ghana for small arms and gold smuggling, Togo for front companies delving in pastoral economy? No, it's not possible.
Together with JNIM's assault on Niamey military airport last week, de facto joining competition against the Islamic State in Niger in full, another grim development is underway. Rapid and consistent deteroriation of security all over the Sahel and parts of littorals.
June 24, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Together with JNIM's assault on Niamey military airport last week, de facto joining competition against the Islamic State in Niger in full, another grim development is underway. Rapid and consistent deteroriation of security all over the Sahel and parts of littorals.
Map from @liamkarr.bsky.social @criticalthreats.bsky.social showing the extent of JNIM's stranglehold of southern Mali, blockading fuel supplies coming from neighboring countries.
November 14, 2025 at 9:56 AM
Map from @liamkarr.bsky.social @criticalthreats.bsky.social showing the extent of JNIM's stranglehold of southern Mali, blockading fuel supplies coming from neighboring countries.
June 8, 2025 at 11:53 AM
... It took me 15 minutes after updating myself what was up during my absence to see that weird rumours ongoing earlier this year about JNIM's split from al-Qaeda were proven wrong in a bit spectacular fashion. Good I was sceptical. And will remain so.
June 7, 2025 at 7:16 PM
... It took me 15 minutes after updating myself what was up during my absence to see that weird rumours ongoing earlier this year about JNIM's split from al-Qaeda were proven wrong in a bit spectacular fashion. Good I was sceptical. And will remain so.
Countering JNIM’s Drone Proliferation in the Sahel
by Rida Lyammouri & Niccola Milnes
www.policycenter.ma/publications...
by Rida Lyammouri & Niccola Milnes
www.policycenter.ma/publications...
July 31, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Countering JNIM’s Drone Proliferation in the Sahel
by Rida Lyammouri & Niccola Milnes
www.policycenter.ma/publications...
by Rida Lyammouri & Niccola Milnes
www.policycenter.ma/publications...
Last year the attacks intensified both on Togo and Benin, with the latter introduced in JNIM's visual productions as their propaganda success. Al-Qaeda is creeping in on the Gulf of Guinea
January 9, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Last year the attacks intensified both on Togo and Benin, with the latter introduced in JNIM's visual productions as their propaganda success. Al-Qaeda is creeping in on the Gulf of Guinea
19.01 #BurkinaFaso
Video from JNIM's attack on the Security Forces base at Bourzanga.
Video from JNIM's attack on the Security Forces base at Bourzanga.
January 22, 2026 at 5:42 PM
19.01 #BurkinaFaso
Video from JNIM's attack on the Security Forces base at Bourzanga.
Video from JNIM's attack on the Security Forces base at Bourzanga.
And it culminated in expected, nevertheless grim development, since warning signs were too many to ignore.
Islamic State finally having capabilities to expand their campaign into cities, with the attack in Niamey, the capital of Niger, basically mirroring JNIM's in Bamako.
Islamic State finally having capabilities to expand their campaign into cities, with the attack in Niamey, the capital of Niger, basically mirroring JNIM's in Bamako.
February 16, 2026 at 4:11 PM
And it culminated in expected, nevertheless grim development, since warning signs were too many to ignore.
Islamic State finally having capabilities to expand their campaign into cities, with the attack in Niamey, the capital of Niger, basically mirroring JNIM's in Bamako.
Islamic State finally having capabilities to expand their campaign into cities, with the attack in Niamey, the capital of Niger, basically mirroring JNIM's in Bamako.
@sebkilli.bsky.social maps how JNIM’s campaign of attacks on fuel convoys has crippled Mali’s supply routes, destroying 130+ tankers and exposing the junta’s failure to secure Bamako’s economic lifelines.
Mali Under Siege: Tracking the Fuel Blockade Crippling Bamako - bellingcat
Attacks by a jihadist group on fuel convoys bound for Bamako, the capital of Mali, have destroyed more than 130 tankers since September, a Bellingcat investigation has found. The systematic attacks b...
www.bellingcat.com
December 3, 2025 at 9:50 AM
@sebkilli.bsky.social maps how JNIM’s campaign of attacks on fuel convoys has crippled Mali’s supply routes, destroying 130+ tankers and exposing the junta’s failure to secure Bamako’s economic lifelines.
Mali: Long fuel queues were seen in Bamako as JNIM’s fuel blockade continues.
October 21, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Mali: Long fuel queues were seen in Bamako as JNIM’s fuel blockade continues.
It's all amid JNIM's operations not stopping elsewhere, but in fact, mainting strict tempo with a potential to intensify. Villages and towns near the Mali borders with Senegal and Guinea are regularly raided,causing destruction and preventing the flow of supplies to the capital.
July 4, 2026 at 7:53 AM
It's all amid JNIM's operations not stopping elsewhere, but in fact, mainting strict tempo with a potential to intensify. Villages and towns near the Mali borders with Senegal and Guinea are regularly raided,causing destruction and preventing the flow of supplies to the capital.
A language analysis of JNIM's Ramadan series "Nafhat Ramadan" reveals a strong predominance of Fulani/Peul - playing to #JNIM's main ethnic support base. Interesting that Bambara appeared only once despite recent militant focus on #Mali, and French not once. #Sahel #Africa
March 23, 2026 at 10:39 AM