Mali’s security map is changing fast. Areas along the Mauritania and Senegal frontiers—long spared from jihadist violence—are now under siege. In early July, fighters from Jama’a Nusrat al‑Islam wal‑Muslimin (JNIM) launched coordinated assaults on several western towns, catching local authorities off‑guard.
JNIM, an al‑Qaeda‑linked coalition, followed the attacks with a blockade, accusing residents of cooperating with Malian troops. The tactic mirrors its playbook in the country’s north and centre, where sieges have crippled trade and forced thousands to flee.
Security analysts say the westward shift signals both strategic opportunism and an attempt to cut army supply lines. It also raises the risk of violence spilling into neighbouring Mauritania and Senegal, two states that have largely avoided the Sahel’s worst turmoil.
Local leaders are urging Bamako to reinforce garrisons and reopen roads before the region’s fragile economy collapses. For now, communities once considered safe havens find themselves on the new frontline of Mali’s grinding conflict.
