Mali-Jihadists Make Gains

Mali Is ‘On Edge’ as Jihadists Make Gains Mali Islamic militants affiliated with the terrorist group al Qaeda are making significant gains in their attempt to seize the Malian capital of Bamako. Called Jama’a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, or JNIM, the militants have surrounded much of the city, already extracting taxes from residents of areas they control. They have pledged to inaugurate a harsh, orthodox version of their religion if they win control of the landlocked country in West Africa, reported France 24. “Bamako is on edge,” the French broadcaster said. Having cut its ties with France, the country’s former colonial power, as well as the Economic Community of West African States, the leaders of Mali’s military junta have sought help from Niger and Russia, who have sent fuel and soldiers to protect tanker convoys that JNIM militants attack, wrote Africanews. Russian influence is especially growing in the region, noted the Robert Lansing Institute. As a result, years after the US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and Iraqi forces reclaimed territory formerly held by the Islamic State in 2017, jihadists are on the brink of taking over Mali. JNIM’s fuel blockage strategy has proved particularly effective in showing the junta’s powerlessness to protect its people, contended the Soufan Center, a non-profit research organization. The fuel blockade has disrupted industry, closed schools, spiked prices, and led to long lines at the pumps. Mali has suffered military coups in 2012, 2020, and 2021. The last one four years ago that brought the current government to power occurred because coup leaders said the prior government was ineffective at dealing with the security situation. In July, Malian lawmakers gave Gen. Assimi Goïta a five-year presidential term. His term is renewable without elections, the BBC added. That broke another junta promise to return quickly to civilian rule. Instead, Goïta has sought to assert his authority, far and wide. He reached a deal, for instance, with Canada-based Barrick Mining over a dispute over a gold mine the Malian leader said was only benefiting the extraction company, Business Insider Africa reported. The company will pay Mali $430 million, while the company will be able to keep pulling the precious metal out of the ground. Goïta has launched Operation Fuka Kènè, “clearing” in the local Bambara language, to stop the JNIM militants, but its progress has been slow, according to the Africa Report. On Nov. 18, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres told the UN Security Council that, if Mali falls, “a disastrous domino effect” could unfurl across the region as other jihadist groups, for example in Niger and Burkina Faso, become more emboldened, the Atlantic Council noted. JNIM’s pressure in recent months appears to be taking its toll on the government. This summer, the junta arrested as many as 50 officers, including two generals, for destabilizing “institutions of the republic.” Goïta also blamed foreign interference: A French national caught in the roundup allegedly was working “on behalf of the French intelligence service” to destabilize the country. But analysts say the country is already deeply destabilized and will likely see more turmoil, particularly for Goïta, whose coalition of support is still strong but faltering. “These tensions are unfolding against a backdrop of growing isolation for the ruling figures in the military and continued setbacks against JNIM’s jihadists,” wrote World Politics Review. “Years after taking control in the 2020 coup, the junta has failed to fulfill its central promise of restoring security. Instead, the situation has only worsened, with JNIM gaining ground even in the country’s heretofore largely peaceful south, around Bamako. (With) a general deterioration in security and economic conditions, it is unclear how long the junta can maintain this popular support.”