The militant group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) is currently advancing on Bamako. If the capital were to fall, this extremist organization—already the most formidable jihadist entity in the Sahel—would gain control over a significant portion of Mali. Operating as an Al-Qaeda affiliate, the group is spearheading an insurgency that is successfully pushing back government forces and Russian mercenaries.

JNIM was formally created on March 2, 2017, following the merger of four jihadist groups previously active in the region. United under the banner of Al-Qaeda, the organization has spread terror throughout the Sahel. Its leader, Iyad Ag Ghali—a former Tuareg insurgent and diplomat—serves as the emir. The group’s influence grew significantly after the withdrawal of French troops from Operation Barkhane, a development closely watched in Niger current affairs and across the region.

Establishing an Islamic emirate in the Sahel

The organization’s ideology is rooted in a fundamentalist vision of Islam. These militants are fighting to establish a sovereign Islamic emirate within the Sahel region. For those following Niger latest news and regional security, the group’s expansion is a critical concern.

In September 2025, JNIM initiated economic blockades around several towns, preparing the ground for broader conflict. By late April, the group launched a coordinated offensive alongside Tuareg rebels against the military junta currently in power in Mali. With a force of approximately 5,000 combatants, JNIM has secured several tactical successes and is now positioned at the gates of Bamako.