Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)

Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) is an al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadist group operating primarily in the Sahel region of Africa. Formed in 2017, it aims to establish Islamic rule and has been involved in numerous attacks and territorial control efforts. JNIM is newsworthy due to its recent fuel blockade of Mali, which began in September and involves attacks on fuel tankers along major highways. This blockade is disrupting fuel supplies to landlocked Mali, which relies heavily on imports, particularly from Niger. Niger's government has responded by revoking the licenses of transport operators and drivers refusing to deliver fuel to Mali due to the threat of JNIM attacks. This situation highlights JNIM's capacity to destabilize regional economies and exert influence through violence and disruption, further complicating the already complex security landscape in the Sahel.