All articles tagged with #jihadists
Jihadist group JNIM has orchestrated a fuel blockade in Mali, severely disrupting daily life, economy, and healthcare, while escalating regional instability and exposing the government's vulnerabilities amid ongoing insurgency and geopolitical shifts.
A Malian TikTok influencer supporting the army was abducted and executed by suspected jihadists, amid escalating violence and territorial gains by jihadist groups like JNIM in Mali, which has worsened insecurity and prompted international advisories for nationals to leave Bamako.
Nigeria's military has killed 35 jihadists in air strikes near the Cameroon border to prevent attacks, amid ongoing conflicts involving Boko Haram and ISWAP, with over 35,000 killed and 2 million displaced in the broader violence. The situation remains tense with jihadists using drones and the government seeking international support, including US arms sales.
Turkey-backed jihadist groups, including Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, have taken control of Aleppo in Syria, endangering tens of thousands of Christians, Kurds, and other minorities. These groups, linked to Al-Qaeda and ISIS, have been accused of committing atrocities such as abductions and threats of mass executions. Turkey has supported these groups with military and financial aid, raising concerns about the safety of ethnic and religious minorities in the region. Calls for self-rule and protection for these communities are growing amid the ongoing conflict.
An elderly Italian Jehovah's Witnesses couple and their son, who were kidnapped by jihadists in Mali in May 2022, have been released and are in good health, with their domestic worker's fate unclear. Italy's intelligence agency and foreign ministry, with the help of community leaders and Mali's intelligence agencies, secured their release. The family had been living in an area heavily infiltrated by jihadists, and the kidnappings were carried out by a faction linked to an al-Qaeda affiliate. Mali has been plagued by insurgency, with jihadists frequently kidnapping foreign nationals for ransom or to demand the release of fellow fighters.
Suspected jihadists attacked a group of soldiers in western Niger, killing 29 and leaving two seriously wounded. The attack, which involved improvised explosive devices and kamikaze vehicles, took place near the border with Mali during military operations against the Islamic State. The region has been plagued by a jihadist insurgency for over a decade, with attacks frequently occurring in the "three borders" area between Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso.
Two people have been killed and five others injured in a mortar attack on the historic city of Timbuktu in northern Mali. The military blamed "terrorists" for the shelling, which comes amid a surge in militant attacks in the region. Timbuktu has been under siege by jihadists, leading to food shortages, and the UN peacekeeping force is pulling out at the request of the military government. The city's inhabitants have also faced shortages of food, petrol, and medicine. In addition to the attack on Timbuktu, the army foiled an attack in Léré town, killing five militants. Ethnic Tuareg rebels have raided military camps and oppose the army taking control of bases vacated by departing UN troops. The Islamist insurgents have spread from northern Mali to neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso.
"Armed terrorist groups" attacked two villages in north-eastern Burkina Faso, killing 44 civilians and injuring others. The impoverished Sahel country has been grappling with a seven-year-old campaign by jihadists linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State. The latest twin attacks happened close to the village of Seytenga, where 86 civilians were killed last June in one of the bloodiest attacks of a long-running insurgency. Burkina Faso's new military chief has vowed to step up a "dynamic offensive" against jihadists following a string of insurgent attacks since the start of the year.