Intelligence Brief | JNIM’s Coordinated Offensive in Western Mali Signals Strategic Shift

Ujasusi Blog’s Terrorism Monitor Desk | 🗓️15 July 2025 | 🕜2320 BST

Executive Summary

Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), al-Qaeda’s Sahel affiliate, launched a sophisticated, multi-front offensive in July 2025 across western and central Mali, targeting military, administrative, and economic infrastructure. The attacks, spanning over 700 kilometres, mark a significant evolution in JNIM’s tactics, shifting from rural strongholds to urban centres like Kayes city, a key economic hub. This intelligence brief examines JNIM’s operational strategy, its exploitation of Mali’s political and economic instability, the implications for regional security, and the potential for expansion beyond the Sahel.