Read on Twitter
1/ A short thread on JNIM and their recent activities. This morning (6 April) they attacked Bamba (Bourem) and killed at least 20 Malian soldiers. http://www.rfi.fr/fr/ticker/mali-moins-20-soldats-tu%C3%A9s-une-attaque-attribu%C3%A9e-jihadistes
2/ This attack took place a bit more than two weeks after the 20 March attack in Tarkint (Bourem) that killed 29 Malian soldiers. Both attacks were conducted with the same strategy and probably the same people. https://www.france24.com/fr/20200320-nouvelle-attaque-meurtri%C3%A8re-contre-des-soldats-maliens-attribu%C3%A9e-aux-jihadistes
3/ I also have to add to this thread the kidnapping of Soumaila Cissé in Niafunké (Timbukutu) on 25 March. More than 10 days after the kidnapping, Cissé is still being held hostage by JNIM (most probably the Katiba Macina) and negotiations continue to free him.
4/ And this is without mentioning JNIM smaller-scale attacks in the past weeks and months, including with the use of IEDs, that are underreported.
5/ Meanwhile, Operation Barkhane and the G5 Sahel force are focusing their efforts on another area – the tri-border area (Liptako-Gourma) – and their “new number one enemy” – the ISGS.
6/ Between 3 and 23 March, they conducted operation Monclar that saw the deployment of 5,000 troops in the tri-border area. This resulted in the "neutralisation of a large number" of ISGS militants and "the deterioration of their logistical capability".
7/ What this shows is that the focus on the Liptako-Gourma leaves important room for manoeuvre elsewhere for other armed groups, including JNIM, that can room "freely" and conduct large-scale attacks against the Malian army and kidnap a big fish like Soumaila Cissé.
8/ While the government announced in February the opening of negotiation with two of JNIM leaders, the group has no intention to back off. They are in a strong position and they know it. And their demandes are clear: Barkhane and MINUSMA need to leave the country.
