1 Jul 2025: JNIM attacked seven towns in western and central Mali in one morning: Kayes (the regional capital), Diboli (Senegal border post), Sandaré, Nioro du Sahel, Gogui (Mauritania border), Niono and Molodo. The army claims >80 attackers killed; JNIM claims three barracks taken. The same day 3 Indian workers were abducted at the Diamond Cement plant (Bafoulabé cercle). It opened JNIM’s western campaign: a fuel blockade of Kayes and Nioro from 3 Sep 2025, attacks on Chinese-run mining sites (≥11 Chinese abducted Jul–Sep 2025), tanker convoys burned at Lakamané (Sep 2025) and Diboli (29 Jan 2026), and an 11 Jan 2026 raid on three industrial sites on the RN22.
Area of operation: Kayes & western Mali
Recent (to 21 Oct 2026)
- Sources: ADF (Jul 2025) https://adf-magazine.com/2025/07/jnim-focuses-attacks-on-malian-urban-military-sites/ ; Scroll.in (Indian MEA) https://scroll.in/latest/1084132/three-indians-abducted-in-mali-amid-series-of-terror-attacks-mea-seeks-action-to-secure-release ; Janes https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-and-national-security-analysis/jnim-attacks-on-fuel-tanker-convoys-in-western-mali-underline-broader-risks-to-government-and-social-stability ; Africanews (29 Jan 2026 ambush) https://www.africanews.com/amp/2026/02/02/deadly-jihadist-attack-hits-fuel-convoy-in-western-mali/ ; RFI via AllAfrica (11 Jan 2026) https://fr.allafrica.com/stories/202601120531.html
Relationships
- Attacker: JNIM
- Defender: FAMa (Mali)
- Led to: Bamako fuel blockade (2025-26)
- Near: Sadiola gold mine
- Near: Loulo-Gounkoto gold mine
- Near: Kéniéba artisanal gold zone
Media
Zoom A: events 1–6 are the Kayes-region attacks.