Intelligence Brief | How JNIM Became Africa’s Deadliest al-Qaeda Affiliate and a Threat to Sahel Stability
Ujasusi Blog’s Terrorism Monitoring Desk | 🗓️09 July 2025 | 🕜0140 BST
🌎 Overview: JNIM's Rapid Rise Across the Sahel
Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist coalition, has become the dominant militant force destabilising the Sahel. Active primarily in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger, JNIM has leveraged political instability, local grievances, and advanced technological tools like Starlink to expand its operations, kill with impunity, and impose its rule. As of mid-2025, the group is responsible for an unprecedented surge in attacks and fatalities across the region, undermining both military juntas and civilian governments.