Mali's military-led government has placed a multi-million-dollar bounty on some of the most wanted militant leaders in the Sahel, stressing the growing pressure facing authorities as armed groups intensify attacks across the country.
In an announcement signed by Security and Civil Protection Minister Major General Daoud Aly Mohammedine, the government offered a reward of 2 billion CFA francs ($3.55 million) for information leading to the capture, arrest, or neutralisation of Iyad Ag Ghaly, the veteran jihadist leader who heads Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), al-Qaeda's affiliate in the Sahel.
Smaller rewards were also announced for several other high-profile militant figures, including Amadou Koufa, a key JNIM commander, and Alghabass Ag Intalla, a prominent Tuareg separatist leader accused of participating in recent attacks against the Malian state.
The move comes just weeks after one of the most serious security setbacks Mali has experienced in years.
In late April, coordinated attacks by JNIM and allied Tuareg rebel groups struck multiple locations across the country, including areas near the capital, Bamako. The offensive targeted military installations, towns, and strategic positions, exposing the growing operational capacity of insurgent groups despite years of military campaigns by the Malian army and its foreign partners.
