The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (Jnim), the prominent Al-Qaeda-linked jihadist coalition operating across the Sahel, launched an attack on a Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) military camp in central Mali on Sunday, August 9. This operation adds to a series of assaults claimed by the group against regular army positions, underscoring the ongoing difficulties faced by the transitional authorities in establishing security across the nation’s rural regions.

Another offensive against FAMa positions

The targeted garrison is 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 fighters. The coalition, led by Iyad Ag Ghali, has firmly entrenched itself here, capitalizing on existing intercommunal tensions and the deterioration of public services in remote areas.

The operational method observed aligns with Jnim’s established tactics: a coordinated assault on a military base, an attempt to seize weaponry and vehicles, followed by a swift retreat before the potential arrival of air reinforcements. This form of asymmetric warfare, executed by highly mobile units on motorcycles, has become the signature of Jnim across the central Sahel. Independent sources have not confirmed human casualties, as Malian authorities maintain strict control over 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, and subsequently the French Barkhane forces, the security landscape has undergone a profound transformation. 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 strategic realignment has, however, failed to curb the jihadist advance, as evidenced by the repeated attacks on military installations, a key piece of Sahel current affairs.

Jnim, under the leadership of Tuareg chief Iyad Ag Ghali since 2017, comprises several katibas including elements from Ansar Dine, the Front de libération du Macina, and Al-Mourabitoune. Its demonstrated ability to strike simultaneously in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger establishes it as the primary threat to the three member states of the Alliance des États du Sahel (AES). Practically, the organization aims to isolate regional capitals by establishing numerous road blockades and imposing its own governance in areas under its control, a crucial aspect of Mali Niger Burkina reporting.

A constant test for the Malian transition

For the transitional authorities, led by General Assimi Goïta, the recurring nature of these assaults poses both a political and military challenge. The legitimacy of the current government largely hinges on its pledge to restore the nation’s security sovereignty. Yet, successive setbacks, notably the one suffered in Tinzaouatène in July 2024 against a coalition of rebels from the Cadre stratégique permanent (CSP) and Jnim fighters, fuel questions about the effectiveness of the present security framework.

Regional partners are observing the situation with growing apprehension. The Confédération des États du Sahel, formalized in July 2024 between Bamako, Ouagadougou, and Niamey, was intended to pool counter-terrorism efforts. Nevertheless, operational coordination remains limited, with each national army grappling with its own immediate crises. Furthermore, humanitarian access is deteriorating in jihadist-controlled zones, where non-governmental organizations struggle to sustain their vital activities.

The persistence of attacks on military camps also prompts a reevaluation of 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 critical issues of territorial control and the reconquest of abandoned areas will become increasingly urgent for the authorities in Bamako, a story often covered by a Sahel Reporter providing on the ground Sahel insights.