As al-Qaeda branch became one of the most deadly fighters of Africa

Al-Qaeda’s partner Jamat Nusrat Al-Islam Wall-Muslimin (JNIM) is the main group behind the surge of jihadist militants, which have been impregnated in several West African countries, especially Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger.

On July 1, the group stated that a major coordinated attack on seven Military places in Western Mali, including near the borders with Senegal and Mauritania.

A growing concern for JNIM can have the region’s stability.

Burkina -faso, Mali and Niger fought for the maintenance of violence – and this is one of the factors that has contributed to several military coup over the last five years in three Sahel countries.

But, like the civilian governments they replaced, the junta seemingly unable to stop the increasing threat of jihadists, especially from JNIM.

JNIM has become one of the most deadly jihadist groups of Africa for just a few years.

It was created in Mali in 2017 as a coalition of five jihadist groups:

• Ansar yours
• Catitat Makin
• Al-Marabitun
• Ansar al-Vasas
• Sahara al-Qaeda department in Islamic Maghreb

These groups began to cooperate after the French military pushed several jihadist and separatist organizations operating in the northern Mali in 2012. After all, the group leaders came together to create JNIM.

In recent years, they have expanded geographically, establishing new areas of work.

JNIM is headed by Iyad Ag -Gali, a former Malian diplomat belonging to the ethnic group of Tuareg. In 2012, he was at the helm of Tuareg’s uprising against the Malian government, which sought to create an independent state for the Tuareg people called Azavad. The deputy leader of Amadu Kufa comes from the Fulani community.

Analysts believe that the central leadership helps to manage the local industries across the Sahel West African region.

Although it is difficult to find out exactly how many fighters are in the ranks of JNIM, or how many recently were recruited, experts believe that it could be several thousand – mostly boys and boys who lack other economic opportunities in one of the poorest regions of the world.

The group rejects the powers of the Sahel governments, seeking to impose its strict interpretation of Islam and Sharia in the areas where it works.

Analysts say in some areas of JNIM, it is known to impose strict dressing codes, prohibits music and smoking, prescribes men to grow beards and prevent women from being in public alone.

This version of Islam can disperse with the religion practiced by local communities, says Ivan Gichau, senior researcher of the International Center for Conflict Research Bonn.

“These practices are clearly violated by established practices and, of course, not very popular,” he says.

“But whether or not it is attractive, it also depends on what the state can deliver, and there was a lot of disappointments that the state has been engaged in recent years.”

Disappointment with the secular justice system can make the introduction of the Sharia vessels that turn to some.

After the beginning in Central and North Mali, JNIM quickly expanded its reach. While his mainstream are in Burkina -fos, Mali and Niger, JNIM also carried out attacks in Benin, and at one point the elephant coast.

He is currently working throughout Mali and 11 of the 13 regions of Burkina Faso, according to the world initiative against transnational organized crime (GI-TOC), civil society organization.

Last year, Burkina -fos became an epicenter of the group’s activity – mostly northern and eastern border regions. This is partly due to units and defects in military countries, as well as how deeply laid militants are in local communities, according to Bverley Ochieng, senior analyst at the risk of security counseling.

“JNIM has the ability to introduce into local communities or be able to use local grievances as a means of calling on a call or victory against its case,” she said the BBC.

In recent months, violent incidents have arisen in Burkin -fos to previously invisible levels, according to a analysis from the Jihadist media -media -media editors of the BBC. Mali, Niger and Benin were recently conducted.

In the first half of 2025, JNim stated that he carried out more than 280 attacks in Burkin -fos – twice as much as the same period in 2024, according to the BBC checked data.

According to the BBC Monitor Monitor Monitor Montern.

Almost 800 of them were only Burkin -fos. The next highest (117) and Benin (74) were victims in Mali (74).

“The incidence of attacks in June is just unheard of,” Mr. Guchaua says. “They have really intensified their activities in recent weeks.”

The militants use different tactics designed to cause maximum violations, explains Ms Ochieng.

“They plant the SVA (makeshift explosive devices) on key roads and have long -range opportunities.

“They (also) are focused on security forces in military bases, so they come in a lot of their weapons. They also attacked civilians – in cases where communities are allegedly cooperating with the government.”

Starlink is a company owned by Elon Musk, which provides the Internet through satellites – was also used by groups such as JNIM to expand its capabilities, according to a recent GI -Toc report.

The company provides high -speed Internet where regular mobile networks are unavailable or unreliable.

A group of militant groups of smuggles of Starlink devices into the country along with well-established smuggling, says G-Toch.

“Starlink has greatly facilitated (militant groups) plan and carry out attacks, share intelligence, recruit members, carry out financial transactions and maintain contacts with their commanders even during an active conflict,” GI-TOC analyst at the BBC accent Africa.

BBC contacted Starlink for comments.

The group has several sources of profit.

At one time, the funds were raised in Mali by abduction of foreigners for redemption, but few remain in the country because of the deterioration of the safety situation.

According to GI-TOC analyst. They did not want them to be called, as it may risk their security in Mali.

“Mali is a large export of cattle, so it is easy for them to steal the animals and sell them,” the analyst said.

The GI-TOC study shows that in one year in only one area of ​​Mali, JNIM has earned $ 770,000 (£ 570,000) from the animal. Based on this figure, JNIM can earn millions of dollars from cattle theft.

According to experts, JNIM also imposes different taxes.

“They are taxed with gold, but mostly taxes all that goes through their territory, whether it will be listed or forbidden goods,” GI-TOC says.

“There may be extortion when JNIM tells citizens that they should pay in return for the defense.”

As you know, militants install blockages on which people have to pay to go out and enter this territory, Ms. Ochien reports.

The French Armed Forces were on land, supporting the government in Mali for almost ten years – with more than 4,000 troops located in the Sahel region, which continued to form JNIM, as well as the Islamic State in the Great Sahara.

While they had some initial success in 2013 and 2014, returning the territory from the militants and killing several senior commanders, it did not stop the growth of JNIM after it was formed.

“Because of this idea, the contraindication efforts have failed because of this idea that JNIM can be defeated in military mode, but only through negotiations will end,” GI-TOC analyst suggested.

In 2014, the Sahel countries united to create the G5 Sahel Operational Group, 5,000 international troops. However, over the past couple of years Burkin -fos, Mali and Niger responded, undermining the ability of the operative group to fight the rebels.

Minus, the UN peacekeeping forces and not confrontation, was also in Mali for decades to support efforts, but it left the country at the end of 2024.

Military upheavals took place in Mali in 2020 and 2021, Burkina -fos in 2022 and Niger in 2023.

According to analysts, poor driving in Burkin -fos, Mali and Niger were allowed to fighter groups such as JNIM.

These junta sought to say that the French troops left, replacing them with Russian support and joint force formed by three Sahel countries.

Despite the fact that Wagner’s Russian parody group completely recalled its troops from Mali, the African Corps, controlled by the Kremlin paramilitary group, will remain in place.

In Burkina Faso, the so-called “volunteer” army launched in 2020 before the military absorption, it is one strategy used to fight militants. Hunta Ibrahim Traore, leader, said he wanted to recruit 50,000 fighters.

But experts say that many of these volunteers are drafted by force. Inappropriate preparation means that they often suffer from great casualties. They are also often the goals for JNIM attacks.

Military junta in Burkin -Faso and Mali were also accused by human rights organizations of committing crimes against civilians, especially ethnic Fulan. The human rights group notes that the government often links the Fulanov community to Islamist armed groups, which contributed to the obstacle for peaceful efforts.

From January 2024 to March 2025, the military government and their Russian allies are responsible for 1486 civil victims in Mali, GI-TOC reports.

This extreme violence against civilians has caused anger to the government, fueled by a further JNIM set.