Global jihadism's growing grip on Africa
About this episode
The episode discusses the growing threat of global jihadism in Africa, particularly in Mali, and the impact of coordinated attacks by jihadist groups and Tuareg separatists on the region's stability.
As attacks from jihadist groups allied to Tuaregs continue in Mali, global jihadism threatens Africa like no other region on earth, according to ACLED's latest report. With the organisation's expert on West Africa, Spotlight on Africa explores how jihadist groups are expanding across the continent, controlling territory, targeting civilians and disrupting infrastructure. Coordinated attacks by Tuareg separatists and jihadists dealt a major new blow to the junta in power in the capital, Bamako , in the last days of April, securing the capture of Kidal , a northern rebel stronghold. Several strategic towns and areas around the capital Bamako were also targeted in the offensive by Tuareg rebels of the Azawad Liberation Front ( FLA ) coalition and the jihadist Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims ( JNIM ), which was launched at dawn on Saturday 25 April. Two days of intense fighting followed between Malian soldiers and the armed groups around Bamako and Kati, a garrison town and junta stronghold about 15 kilometres north of the capital. Mali's junta has now lost control of key northern areas and still faces a growing insurgent campaign that is tightening pressure around Bamako…
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