Just two months after the United States and Nigerian forces killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, one of the Islamic State's most senior global leaders, in a joint operation in northeastern Nigeria, Washington is weighing another direct military intervention in Africa - this time in Mali.
On May 16, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), working alongside the Nigerian military, carried out a precision strike in the Lake Chad Basin that eliminated al-Minuki—also known as Abu-Mainok—along with several senior ISIS commanders.
AFRICOM described him as the group's director of global operations, responsible for strategic guidance on terrorist financing, media operations, weapons development, explosives and drones.
The strike was followed by additional joint operations on May 17 and 18 targeting ISIS fighters in northeastern Nigeria.
Now, according to The Washington Post, the Trump administration is considering military strikes against Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked militant group that has become one of the most powerful jihadist organisations in the Sahel.
