'A common enemy, but not a common project': A fragile jihadist-separatist alliance in Mali
Key takeaways
- The latest escalation, however, raises fresh questions about the strength of the alliance between the two groups.
- Issued on: 01/05/2026 - 14:38Modified: 01/05/2026 - 14:41
- By: Grégoire SAUVAGE Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition ride on the back of a pickup truck in Kidal, on April 26, 2026.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
Mali is facing its most serious security challenge in years as jihadist fighters and Tuareg separatists launch coordinated attacks and tighten a blockade around the capital, Bamako, increasing pressure on the country’s military rulers. The latest escalation, however, raises fresh questions about the strength of the alliance between the two groups.
Issued on: 01/05/2026 - 14:38Modified: 01/05/2026 - 14:41
By: Grégoire SAUVAGE Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) coalition ride on the back of a pickup truck in Kidal, on April 26, 2026. © AFP Jihadist fighters in Mali on Thursday called for a nationwide uprising against the ruling military junta, as they tightened a blockade on the capital, Bamako, following coordinated attacks alongside Tuareg separatists.