On April 25th and 26th, coordinated attacks were carried out in Mali by a new alliance of jihadists from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), linked to Al-Qaeda, and separatist Tuareg rebels from the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). The city of Kidal fell under the control of the FLA. Since then, JNIM jihadists have announced a blockade of Bamako. Malian journalist Baba Saïdou, who collaborates with various media outlets including the pan-African website Tama Media, reflects on the unprecedented nature of these operations.
COURRIER INTERNATIONAL: What struck you the most about these simultaneous offensives? Baba Saïdou: I was particularly struck by their unprecedented and unprecedented impact, which reached the heart of the Malian politico-military apparatus. This occurred in a garrison town considered the most secure in the country, Kati, located about ten kilometers from the capital Bamako, which is home to several high-ranking military officials, including the leaders of the transition.
The jihadists, who were not targeting it for the first time, managed to reach the top of the state. The powerful and discreet Minister of Defense, Sadio Camara, died after his home was targeted in a suicide attack, while the head of intelligence…
