Mali junta offers bounties on militants’ heads amid escalating violence

Jihadist leaders become top targets as Bamako ramps up counter-terrorism efforts

The Malian government has escalated its fight against militant groups by announcing substantial financial rewards for the capture or elimination of key leaders responsible for recent deadly attacks across the country.

Among those now hunted is Iyad Ag Ghaly, a former Tuareg rebel and diplomat who heads the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), established in 2017. Ag Ghaly holds the grim distinction of being the most wanted individual in the Sahel region, with sanctions imposed by the United Nations, a designation as a terrorist by the United States, and an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

A surge in coordinated attacks challenges military rule

Recent coordinated assaults on April 25 and 26, carried out by JNIM fighters in alliance with the predominantly Tuareg Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), have plunged Mali into deeper instability. These large-scale offensives targeted critical military positions in multiple regions, including the capital Bamako, leaving Defense Minister Sadio Camara dead—a 47-year-old central figure in the ruling junta slain in a suicide bombing.

Government escalates rewards for militant leaders

In response, the Malian authorities announced bounties on six additional individuals, including:

• Amadou Kouffa, a senior JNIM commander, with a reward of €2.2 million;
• Alghabass Ag Intalla and Bilal Ag Cherif, both FLA leaders;

The statement from the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection stressed that monetary rewards will be granted to anyone providing verifiable information leading to the arrest or neutralization of these individuals. It emphasized their suspected roles in planning and executing terrorist acts that have endangered both lives and property nationwide.

Since 2012, Mali has struggled under a severe security crisis fueled by violence from groups like JNIM, the Islamic State, and various community-based criminal factions. The latest wave of attacks underscores the persistent threat these organizations pose to national stability and civilian safety.