Escalating jihadist attacks threaten Mali’s stability
Since late April, Mali has faced an unprecedented wave of attacks by jihadist groups and predominantly Tuareg rebel factions. This surge has significantly weakened the military junta that seized power in 2020 and 2021.
Despite ongoing counterinsurgency operations, security has deteriorated in multiple regions, with Bamako now under growing pressure.
France-Mali relations strained by troop withdrawal
The junta’s decision to force French troops out of Mali in 2022 marked a turning point in relations between Paris and Bamako. This rupture extended to neighboring countries like Burkina Faso and Niger, where similar withdrawals occurred following political upheavals.
French military presence in the Sahel has long been a contentious issue, sparking political and popular tensions across the region.