Islamic State Editorial on al-Qaeda's Offensive in Mali
Translation and Overview
In the world of global jihadism, the most prominent recent development has been a large-scale offensive launched by al-Qaeda’s Sahel affiliate- Jama‘at Nusrat al-Islam wa al-Muslimin (‘Group to Support Islam and the Muslims’- JNIM)- against the Malian government. This has included the capture of some towns and localities in the country, the seizure of various military barracks and positions, and the assassination of Mali’s defence minister. Crucially, JNIM has declared that this offensive is being carried out in coordination with the Azawad Liberation Front, a Tuareg-led rebel group that seeks independence for Azawad (northern Mali).
In addition, JNIM has declared its desire to ‘neutralise the Russian side in the conflict’- that is, it will guarantee not targeting Russian assets or forces if Russia withdraws its support for the Malian government and armed forces. Recall that Russia has emerged as Mali’s key international ally since the Malian coup d’état in 2021 and the withdrawal of French forces from the country.
The Islamic State, which has its own affiliate in the Sahel that causes significant problems for the Sahelian governments but is not as powerful as JNIM and is also actively at war with JNIM (issuing periodic reports of fighting with the ‘al-Qaeda militia’), has predictably issued an editorial this week in its al-Naba’ newsletter lambasting al-Qaeda for ‘methodological’ inconsistency regarding this offensive.