Will Mali be the next target? Washington is considering a new military strike in the heart of the African Sahel.
Written by Omnia Hassan:
Less than two months after the military operation carried out by the United States in cooperation with the Nigerian army against ISIS in northeastern Nigeria, attention is turning to Mali, where Washington is considering the option of carrying out a new military intervention that could redraw the map of the confrontation with extremist organizations in the African Sahel region.
From Nigeria to Mali, an expanding US strategy
US forces, through the AFRICOM command, in coordination with the Nigerian army, achieved a remarkable success last May after the killing of Abu Bilal al-Manki, one of the most prominent leaders of ISIS, during an operation targeting the organization’s strongholds in the Lake Chad Basin.
That strike was followed by other operations against members of the organization, in a move seen as a clear message that Washington intends to escalate its war on terrorist groups in Africa.
Today, the focus of attention is on Mali, where the US administration is exploring the possibility of targeting the Al-Qaeda-linked group Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, which is considered one of the most dangerous armed groups active in the Sahel region.
Bamako insists on sovereignty and awaits clarifications
In contrast, the Malian government reacted cautiously to the reports, asserting that it had not received any official notification from Washington regarding these plans. Bamako emphasized that any foreign military action must respect the country's sovereignty and national interests, given the security and political transformations the country has undergone in recent years.
The African coast is an arena of escalating international competition.
Mali has undergone significant changes since the military coups that the country experienced, with French forces leaving and the UN mission ending, while Russia strengthened its security presence by supporting Malian forces in confronting armed groups.
Observers believe that any potential US operation will not only have effects on combating terrorism, but may also open the door to a new phase of international competition for influence in the Sahel region, which has become one of the most unstable hotspots in Africa.
Why is Mali getting so much attention?
Mali enjoys a strategic location in the heart of the Sahel region, while the Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has expanded in recent years within Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, taking advantage of the fragile security situation and frequent coups.
Analysts assert that any direct US intervention would reflect a shift in Washington’s policy towards Africa, from merely providing intelligence support and military training to direct field engagement, in an attempt to contain the expansion of extremist groups and prevent the spread of instability in the region.
