Al Qaeda-linked insurgents call on Malians to rise up, establish Sharia law
Al Qaeda-linked group JNIM has called on Malians to overthrow the military-led government and establish Sharia law, following coordinated attacks with the Azawad Liberation Front across Mali. The rare French-language statement aims to broaden appeal and delegitimize the junta, which seized power in 2020 and 2021. JNIM has set up checkpoints near Bamako, while the government claims the situation is under control.
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Al Qaeda-linked insurgents call on Malians to rise up, establish Sharia lawSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxFILE PHOTO: Malian soldiers stand near a truck during a patrol following the attack on Mali's main military base Kati, outside the capital Bamako, in Kati, Mali, April 27, 2026. Picture taken with a mobile phone. REUTERS/Stringer/File PhotoPublished May 01, 2026, 06:48 PMUpdated May 01, 2026, 06:53 PMListenDAKAR, May 1 - Al Qaeda-linked insurgents have called on Malians to rise up against the military-led government and transition to Sharia law in a rare French-language statement issued days after carrying out unprecedented attacks across the country.Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) launched assaults on April 25 in coordination with the…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Straits Times — World.