How armed group alliances are reshaping Mali’s conflict and the wider Sahel
Summary
Armed groups in northern Mali, including Tuareg separatists and an al-Qaeda-linked group, have started working together against the Malian military and its Russian allies. This cooperation makes it harder for the Malian government to control the conflict, especially after it ended peace talks and increased its military partnership with Russia.Key Facts
- At least 50 Malian soldiers were killed in an ambush near Anefis on July 18.
- The attack was carried out by the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) and Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).
- FLA seeks autonomy or independence for northern Mali, while JNIM wants Islamic law across the region.
- These groups cooperate mainly because they share a common enemy, not because they have the same goals.
- Cooperation allows them to combine resources and use local knowledge against the Malian army and Russian forces.
- Mali’s military government stopped peace talks and asked the UN to withdraw its peacekeeping mission.
- Russia’s Africa Corps supports the Malian military with combat forces and drones.
- Coordinated attacks by armed groups have increased since April, putting more pressure on the Malian military.
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