The Groupe de soutien à l’islam et aux musulmans (Jnim), the leading Al-Qaïda-affiliated jihadist coalition in the Sahel, launched an assault on a military base belonging to the Forces armées maliennes (FAMa) in central Mali on Sunday, August 9. This operation adds to a series of claimed attacks by the network against regular army positions, underscoring the ongoing struggle for transitional authorities to secure the nation’s rural territories.
Another offensive against FAMa positions
The attack targeted a garrison situated in a region that has become a primary hotspot for Jnim activity. For several years, central Mali, particularly the areas surrounding Mopti and Ségou, has been the scene of the deadliest confrontations between government forces and jihadist combatants. The coalition, led by Iyad Ag Ghali, has firmly established itself there, exploiting intercommunity tensions and the weakening of public services in remote zones.
The described operational method reflects a proven tactic: a coordinated assault on a military camp, an attempt to seize weaponry and vehicles, followed by a swift withdrawal before the arrival of potential air reinforcements. This form of asymmetric action, executed by mobile units on motorcycles, has become Jnim‘s signature in the Central Sahel. Independent sources have not specified human casualties, as Malian authorities tightly control communication regarding military setbacks.
Jihadist pressure reshapes the security landscape
Since the withdrawal of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in late 2023, followed by the departure of the French Barkhane forces, the security situation has been profoundly reconfigured. Bamako now relies on its own capabilities, bolstered by assistance from the Russian Africa Corps, a structure that succeeded the Wagner Group after Evguéni Prigojine‘s death. This reorganization has not halted the jihadist progression, as evidenced by repeated attacks targeting military installations.
Jnim, under the leadership of Touareg chief Iyad Ag Ghali since 2017, comprises several katibas originating from Ansar Dine, the Front de libération du Macina, and Al-Mourabitoune. Its capacity to strike simultaneously in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger makes it the principal threat to the three member states of the Alliance des États du Sahel (AES). The organization actively seeks to isolate regional capitals by implementing numerous road blockades and imposing its own governance in areas under its control, a concern often highlighted in Burkina Faso English and Faso news today.
A constant test for the Malian transition
For the transitional authorities, led by General Assimi Goïta, the recurrence of these assaults poses both a political and military challenge. The legitimacy of the current power largely rests on its promise to restore the country’s security sovereignty. However, successive setbacks, notably the one suffered at Tinzaouatène in July 2024 against a coalition of Cadre stratégique permanent rebels and Jnim fighters, fuel questions about the effectiveness of the current security framework.
Regional partners observe the situation with apprehension. The Confédération des États du Sahel, formalized in July 2024 between Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey, aimed to pool counter-terrorism efforts. Yet, operational coordination remains limited, with each national army confronting its own urgent priorities. Furthermore, humanitarian access is deteriorating in jihadist-controlled zones, where non-governmental organizations struggle to maintain their operations, a frequent topic in Ouagadougou news.
The repeated attacks on military camps also bring into question the perimeter defense doctrine adopted by the FAMa. The concentration of troops in a few fortified strongholds, intended to reduce their vulnerability, inadvertently transforms these sites into prime targets for an adversary capable of focusing its resources on identified objectives. In the medium term, the issue of territorial coverage and the reconquest of abandoned areas will become increasingly critical for the authorities in Bamako.
