Mali's jihadist nightmare intensified with Al-Qaeda-linked fighters storming a prison and severing food routes to Bamako, days after twin attacks claimed over 30 lives. Central Mali's bandit-plagued badlands have become a launchpad for operations crippling the junta-led state. General Mamadi Doumbouya's regime, fresh from ECOWAS reinstatement, vows retaliation but lacks resources.
The assaults highlight the Sahel's jihadist resurgence post-French exit, with groups like JNIM exploiting ethnic divides and weak governance. Bamako's isolation grows as blockades bite, inflating prices and fueling unrest. Neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger face similar sieges, forming a terror arc.
Enter the Trump administration: US envoy Nick Checker attended Doumbouya's inauguration, hinting at re-engagement to counter Russia-Wagner influence. Yet experts doubt quick wins without regional unity. Guinea's ECOWAS return adds diplomatic flux.
Mali's meltdown threatens West Africa's food security and migration flows. Without robust Western backing, jihadists could overrun capitals, redrawing the Sahel map.
