Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, al-Qaeda’s Sahel affiliate formed Mar 2017 (Ansar Dine + Katiba Macina + al-Mourabitoun + AQIM’s Sahara emirate). The dominant armed actor in the central Sahel. Blockades Bamako’s fuel supply (Sep 2025; reimposed 28 Apr 2026) and is expanding into Benin, Togo, Nigeria and the Guinea borderlands. Allied with the FLA in the Apr 2026 offensive. Also fighting the ISSP (Oct 2026).
Leader(s): Iyad Ag Ghaly (emir); Amadou Koufa (deputy); spokesman Bina Diarra
Origin: Mali (Tuareg/Fulani-led, multi-ethnic)
Area of operation: Mopti & Bandiagara (central Mali), Ségou Region, Timbuktu Region, Kayes & western Mali, Sikasso & Koutiala, Bamako & Kati, Kidal Region, Liptako-Gourma tri-border, Burkina Sahel (Djibo, Oudalan, Dori), Burkina Est (Fada, Arly), Boucle du Mouhoun, Burkina Centre-Nord & Nord, Tillabéri, Northern Benin, Northern Togo (Savanes), Kwara & Kainji (Borgu)
Recent (to 21 Oct 2026)
- 4 Sep: ex-Ansar Dine spokesman Sanda Ould Bouamama arrested in Mauritania (Bassikounou) with 16 others and two pickups of arms (D2, Departamente, t.me/departamente/8143, 9 Sep 2026). JNIM’s Burkina deputy emir Ousmane Dicko announced a shift from quick raids to ‘more intensive, systematic’ attacks after 25 Apr (D3, Departamente, t.me/departamente/8154, 9 Sep 2026).
- JNIM showed two Beninese and one Nigerien soldier captured in 2025–26, probably seeking a new swap after Niamey traded 24 prisoners for 19 soldiers (D3, Departamente, t.me/departamente/8199, 25 Sep 2026).
- 9 Aug: San camp attack (Aug 2026). 5 Aug: a JNIM video (speaker Sheikh Albani al-Ansari) answers Tiani’s televised interview, saying JNIM would stop fighting Niger only if it ruled exclusively by sharia, and rejecting his ‘allies of France’ charge (C2, Faytuks News Discord (west-africa-sahel) via @KargnHasret, x.com/KargnHasret/status/2085042485173084591, 5 Aug 2026).
- Resource sites: taxes artisanal gold in the Burkina Sahel artisanal gold belt, the Kidal artisanal gold zone (Adrar des Ifoghas) (with the FLA) and Tessit artisanal gold zone; attacks Chinese-run sites in the Kéniéba artisanal gold zone and Kangaba–Narena artisanal gold zone; raided Morila (3 Jan 2026). See JNIM attacks in Kayes region (Jul 2025) and 03 Resources Map.
Relationships
- Affiliate of: AQIM
- Includes: Katiba Macina
- Allied with: Ansarul Islam
- Allied with: FLA
- Fights: ISSP
- Fights: FAMa (Mali)
- Fights: Africa Corps
- Fights: Burkina Faso armed forces
- Fights: VDP (Burkina Faso)
- Fights: FAN (Niger)
- Fights: Dan Na Ambassagou
- Fights: Dozo militias
- Fights: Benin armed forces
- Fights: Togo armed forces
- Cooperates with: Ansaru
Referenced by
- Africa Corps (Fights)
- Ansaru (Cooperates with)
- Ansarul Islam (Allied with / within)
- April 2026 FLA-JNIM offensive (Attacker)
- Bamako fuel blockade (2025-26) (Imposed by)
- Battle of Tinzaouaten (Jul 2024) (Participant)
- Benin armed forces (Fights)
- Bougouni lithium mine (Suspected attacker (22 Aug 2025, unnamed))
- Boungou gold mine (Area contested by)
- Burkina Faso armed forces (Fights)
- Burkina Sahel artisanal gold belt (Taxes and controls sites)
- Dan Na Ambassagou (Fights)
- Dioura attack (Sep 2026) (Attacker)
- Essakane gold mine (Area contested by)
- FAMa (Mali) (Fights)
- FAN (Niger) (Fights)
- FLA (Allied with)
- Fekola gold mine (Area contested by)
- France (Barkhane) (Fought)
- Goulamina lithium mine (Supply roads blockaded by)
- ISSP (Fights)
- Intahaka artisanal gold site (Held after Apr 2026 withdrawal)
- JNIM attacks in Kayes region (Jul 2025) (Attacker)
- JNIM-ISSP Oudalan clashes (Oct 2026) (Belligerent)
- Kaka ambush (Sep 2026) (Attacker)
- Kangaba–Narena artisanal gold zone (Attacks Chinese-run sites)
- Katiba Macina (Part of)
- Kidal artisanal gold zone (Adrar des Ifoghas) (Taxed by)
- Kobada gold project (Borderland threatened by)
- Komabangou artisanal gold site (Area contested by)
- Kéniéba artisanal gold zone (Targets Chinese-run sites)
- Loulo-Gounkoto gold mine (Area contested by)
- Niger self-defence militias (Fights)
- Sadiola gold mine (Convoy attacked by (May 2025, suspected))
- San camp attack (Aug 2026) (Attacker)
- Siguiri gold mine (Borderland threatened by)
- Syama gold mine (Supply roads blockaded by)
- Tessit artisanal gold zone (Held by (since Apr 2026))
- Togo armed forces (Fights)
- VDP (Burkina Faso) (Fights)