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An al-Qaeda-linked insurgent group operating in Mali has announced a €2 million bounty on the country’s military ruler, Assimi Goïta, in a major escalation of threats against the West African nation’s leadership.
Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), one of the most powerful terrorist groups in the Sahel, also declared additional rewards of €1 million each for information leading to the location of Colonel Lassina Diallo and General Malik Dicko.
According to a statement cited by the SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors extremist communications, the group said the incentives were for anyone who could provide actionable intelligence on the officials or assist in operations against them. It also reportedly described Mali’s military authorities as illegitimate.
The announcement comes in apparent retaliation to a move by the Malian government, which recently offered a $3.5 million reward for information leading to the arrest of JNIM leader Iyad Ag Ghaly and other senior commanders.
The development shows the worsening security situation in Mali, where militant activity has intensified across northern and central regions. Earlier this year, attacks linked to al-Qaeda-affiliated fighters reportedly resulted in the deaths of senior military personnel and triggered renewed clashes in several areas.
Since seizing power through coups in 2020 and 2021, Assimi Goïta’s administration has pledged to restore stability and reclaim territories controlled by armed groups. However, terrorist organisations continue to operate across large parts of Mali and the wider Sahel region.
Security analysts warn that the withdrawal of French forces and the exit of United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions have created a vacuum that militant groups are exploiting to expand their operations, raising broader concerns about regional stability in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
