Militant radios order halt to movement in east Mali

Militant groups in Mali have issued a radio order for a complete halt to movement in eastern regions of the country. Both the Islamic State Sahel Province (ISSP) and the al Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) broadcast the directive over a five-hour period, citing unspecified reasons for the nighttime curfew. The order comes amid a major, multi-front offensive by a rebel alliance that has already captured territory and killed Mali's defense minister. The nature of the planned activity prompting the movement ban remains unclear.