The West African country of Mali stands on the brink of collapse, with al-Qaeda’s Sahelian branch, Jama’at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), choking off the country’s fuel supplies, leaving the government in the capital of Bamako vulnerable to being overrun. The fuel blockade is part of JNIM’s evolving strategy, which now features an economic warfare component and aims to demonstrate to the Malian population that the current government is incapable of providing for its citizens or protecting them. There are increasing concerns that if Mali falls, there could be a domino effect with other governments in the region, including in Burkina Faso and/or Niger, and worries that momentum will propel the jihadists throughout coastal West Africa. If the government in Mali does fall, it would be a blow to Russia — which helps to militarily back the Malian government — showcasing once again that Moscow’s military muscle is not a panacea for weak and fragile states.
Mali on the Brink of Collapse as Jihadists Threaten to Overrun the Country – The Soufan Center
