Militants linked to al-Qaida targeted an army base and a crowded passenger boat on the Niger River in northern Mali, resulting in the deaths of at least 64 people, The Guardian reported. The extremist group Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) is believed to be responsible for the attacks on the Timbuktu boat and the army position at Bamba, leaving 49 civilians and 15 soldiers dead, as confirmed by a government statement.
The attack on the passenger boat, which serves as a crucial transport link in a region with poor road infrastructure and no railways, involved the use of at least three rockets aimed at its engines. The nature of the attack led to the boat sinking rapidly or potentially igniting a deadly fire.
JNIM, formed from a coalition of local al-Qaida affiliates six years ago, claimed responsibility for the assaults. These attacks underscore the ongoing instability in the strategically vital Sahel region. Mali has witnessed a surge in violence since a military coup in 2021, making it one of the countries most affected by extremism in the central Sahel, according to data compiled by the Institute for Economics and Peace.
The Sahel region has experienced a series of military coups in recent years, leading to the withdrawal of Western troops from various countries. In Mali, a significant French deployment has been replaced by a smaller contingent of Russian mercenaries from the Wagner group, linked to the Kremlin.
Civilians in the region have borne the brunt of the violence, suffering from both Islamic militant attacks and often indiscriminate government offensives.
The United Nations' peacekeeping mission in Mali, which is set to leave by the end of the year, recently handed over two bases near Timbuktu to the armed forces. This move sparked clashes between the army and jihadists, exacerbating tensions and raising concerns about the 2015 peace agreement.
Analysts attribute much of the violence in the Sahel to a complex mix of political, social, economic, and environmental crises. The region is also experiencing the effects of accelerating climate change, further exacerbating its challenges.
In Mali, the rivalry between the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara and JNIM, the two primary extremist groups, drives a significant portion of the violence. Despite the government's hopes that confrontations between these groups will benefit Malian authorities, experts warn that terrorist groups are growing in strength and influence, posing a prolonged threat to the region's stability.
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