Once a Tuareg rebel and later a Malian diplomat, Iyad Ag Ghaly now leads the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked group formed in 2017.

Wanted across the Sahel, he faces multiple international sanctions, including UN listings, U.S. terrorism designations, and an International Criminal Court warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The Malian junta is grappling with escalating security threats following coordinated jihadist attacks on April 25 and 26. These offensives, carried out by JNIM fighters in alliance with the predominantly Tuareg Front de Libération de l’Azawad (FLA), targeted key military positions nationwide.

The assaults marked a significant escalation, resulting in the death of Mali’s Defence Minister, Sadio Camara, aged 47, who was killed in a suicide bombing while on duty.

In response, the transitional government announced a bounty program, offering financial rewards for information leading to the capture or elimination of seven high-profile militants. Among those targeted are Amadou Kouffa, a senior JNIM commander, and two FLA leaders, Alghabass Ag Intalla and Bilal Ag Cherif, each with a price tag of €2.2 million.

The official statement from the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection emphasized the urgency of these measures, stating: “Financial incentives are being provided to individuals who provide verified, actionable intelligence that enables the arrest or neutralization of these suspects.”

The communiqué further noted: “These individuals are sought for their alleged roles in planning, organizing, and executing terrorist acts that have endangered lives and property across Mali.”

Since 2012, Mali has been trapped in a worsening security crisis, fueled by the persistent violence of JNIM, the Islamic State’s local affiliates, and various armed communal factions.