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Al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) took over a key base near the town of Hombori in central Mali on April 30, as Russia vowed to keep forces in the Sahel country.
The group launched a large-scale offensive across Mali last week in cooperation with the separatist Tuareg Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). The capital, Bamako, in addition to the key cities of Sevare, Gao, and Kidal all came under attack within a few hours of the start of the offensive on April 25.
In a statement, JNIM said that its militants took over Hombori base, in addition to two checkpoints in the nearby areas of Fana and Kassela, which are located approximately 35 kilometers from Bamako.
The group vowed a day earlier to tighten the siege on Bamako. At least three of the six main routes into the city are reported to be closed.
JNIM spokesman Abu Hudheifah al Bambari, also known as Bina Diarra, declared that the blockade will be “total” and will involve “all roads leading to Bamako.” The only exception was granted to those already in the city, who will be allowed to leave. However, travel to the city “is prohibited until further notice,” he specified.
At the start of the large-scale offensive, Mali’s Defence Minister Gen. Sadio Camara was killed in an attack on his residence near Bamako. He was buried on April 30 amid tight security in front of thousands of people, including the head of the country’s military government Gen Assimi Goita.
Russians withdrew from the northern city of Kidal shortly after the start of the offensive. The city is now under FLA control. The group warned that it will march on other cities in the north and have demanded the withdrawal of Russia’s Africa Corps from the entire country.
A Kremlin spokesperson on April 30 vowed that Russian forces would remain in Mali “to combat extremism, terrorism and other harmful phenomena.”
“Russia’s presence there is, in fact, a necessity declared by the current government,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a press briefing.
“Russia will continue, including in Mali, the fight against extremism, terrorism, and other negative manifestations, and will continue to provide assistance to the current government,” he added.
Goita rose to power after two consecutive coups in 2020 and 2021. Under his leadership, Mali moved away from France, and built strong relations with both Russia and Turkey. The military government has been also pursuing closer ties with the United States.
JNIM and the FLA have been coordinating very closely so far, but major differences remain between the two groups. JNIM seeks to replace established state authority with a conservative interpretation of Islamic law, while the FLA was founded by several Tuareg movements based on its demands for the independence or autonomy of Azawad. If the military government falls, the two will likely turn against each other.
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the fla will first need to consolidate what they have. russian forces pulling back doesn’t mean that they won’t eventually move forward again. the nato cabal of colonialists and exploiters don’t like losing their cash points in africa.
rus has increased aerospace attacks on americunt terrorists in mali—now i am in americunt gay bar swallowing hebrew jizz