JNIM and FLA attack 7 Malian cities

On 25 April 2026, Mali faced its most severe test in fourteen years as coordinated attacks by JNIM and the FLA struck seven major population centres, including Kati, Mopti, Gao, and Kidal. Institutional silence and perceived weakness of the Alliance of Sahelian States have drawn attention, though Niger and Burkina Faso are already fighting terrorism on the ground. The incident marks a significant escalation in the Sahel conflict.