Security Risk Monitoring and Threat Assessment of JNIM in Africa

Military Operations from January to May 2024

This report examines and analyses the military operations of Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM) in Africa.

Date: January - May 2024

Method: Monitoring of jihadist propaganda (videos, photos, statements, claims) and reports from sources in the field.

Organisations/groups surveyed January - May 2024:

• Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM).

Impacted areas:

• Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Togo.

Overview and Security Threat Assessments: In recent years, the Saharan and Sahelian areas have become increasingly important in threat assessment and risk expansion, particularly regarding Salafist-jihadist terrorism. The numerous problems of popular discontent, economic and social vulnerabilities, etc. have been the basis of support for independence movements in the North in the past. They are also the basis for the recruitment of jihadist organisations today. The strongest of these is undoubtedly Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims - JNIM), a coalition of Salafist-jihadist rebel groups operating in the Sahel region of sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, but with attacks also conducted in recent years in Togo, Ivory Coast, Benin and Senegal. JNIM was founded in March 2017 by the merger of four Salafist-jihadist groups in the Sahel: Ansar Dine led by Iyad Ag Ghali, Ahmed Kouffa's Katibat Macina, al-Mourabitoun and the Saharan branch of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).