Jacob Boswall
@jboswall.bsky.social
BBC journalist/analyst following security and conflict stories // aspiring beekeeper Still also at https://x.com/Boswall_Jacob
It is striking how much warmer and full of praise JNIM's language has become when referring to their Tuareg "partners" (FLA). The statement on 4 July attacks in #Mali speaks of the FLA's "heroism", "sacrifice" and "valour". In April they got a cursory mention as "partners" and "brothers"
Several pro-IS sources have been circulating "news" of a large defection of rival #JNIM fighters to the ranks of IS #Sahel amid alleged internal divisions in JNIM's northern #BurkinaFaso branch. It is speculative at this stage - but one suggested that as many as 150 JNIM fighters may have defected
Always a pleasure to speak to John Simpson on BBC's Unspun World. This time, we discussed Islamist militancy in West #Africa’s infamous “coup belt” region and why Russian mercenaries may be exacerbating insecurity #Sahel #Mali www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hg1...
Islamist militancy grows in West Africa's Sahel
YouTube video by BBC Monitoring
youtube.com
Well worth watching this documentary from #BBCAfricaEye which managed to get rare frontline access to Puntland's fight against #IslamicState www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmIs...
Shadow War: Islamic State Group in Africa - BBC Africa Eye Documentary
YouTube video by BBC News Africa
youtube.com
My latest feature for BBC News explores why high-profile abductions of foreign nationals in the #Sahel spiked last year, and tells the stories of some of the victims and their families Thanks Heni Nsaibia from MENASTREAM for sharing your analysis www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Kidnapping of foreigners soars in Africa's lawless Sahel region
Growing insecurity in the Sahel made 2025 one of the worst years on record for the abduction of foreigners in Africa.
bbc.co.uk
#BBCNews - Kidnapping of foreigners soars in Africa's lawless Sahel region www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... By @jboswall.bsky.social
Kidnapping of foreigners soars in Africa's lawless Sahel region
Growing insecurity in the Sahel made 2025 one of the worst years on record for the abduction of foreigners in Africa.
bbc.co.uk
Mali has spent approx. $1bn on Russian mercenaries since their arrival in late 2021, according to this new investigation by @matteomaillard.bsky.social @jeuneafrique.com. That is reportedly more than the annual Malian defence budget www.jeuneafrique.com/1766436/poli...
De Wagner à Africa Corps : ce que l’alliance militaire russe a vraiment coûté au Mali
Après la fin du groupe Wagner, Bamako s’appuie désormais sur Africa Corps pour contenir la menace jihadiste. Un dispositif russe qui a déjà coûté près d’un milliard de dollars à la junte malienne, pou...
jeuneafrique.com
A JNIM supporter video claims to show the aftermath of a "coordinated attack with the separatists" in Kidal, targeting a convoy of #Malian army and #Russian #AfricaCorps Evidence of coordination with Tuareg armed groups is rare, and JNIM does not admit such coordination
A photo circulating after last night's apparent attack on Niamey airport in #Niger shows a black and white flag featuring the Shahada - further indication of jihadist involvement. But still no claim from either #JNIM or #ISSahel
Jacob Boswall@jboswall.bsky.social · 6mo agoLocal #Niger media is suggesting that "mortar fire" targeted Niamey's international airport last night, lending credibility to the idea that an armed group - possibly #JNIM - might have launched an attack. No official claim from any group, though www.actuniger.com/societe/2172...
Local #Niger media is suggesting that "mortar fire" targeted Niamey's international airport last night, lending credibility to the idea that an armed group - possibly #JNIM - might have launched an attack. No official claim from any group, though www.actuniger.com/societe/2172...
Niger : situation calme et maîtrisée à Niamey après une nuit agitée suite à des détonations et des tirs dans la zone de l’aéroport
Le calme est revenu ce jeudi matin à Niamey, après une nuit agitée qui a provoqué une véritable panique dans la capitale. Aux environs de minuit (heure locale), de fortes détonations suivies d’échang...
actuniger.com
As communities continue to feel the awful repercussions of Bondi, governments will be asking themselves what they can do to keep people safer... A wider interpretation of extremism may help flag dangerous individuals in future. My piece for @newstatesman1913.bsky.social tinyurl.com/332ec4fb
The Islamic State is taking advantage of a new kind of terrorist
They are liable to commit terrorist acts without any meaningful link to a terrorist ideology
newstatesman.com
Similar to the New Orleans attack in January, IS has obliquely taken credit for inspiring the #bondiattack in #Sydney - but not for being operationally involved. Fits an emerging pattern of IS claims since summer last year in which IS blurs the line of what constitutes an IS attack
I shared some thoughts for BBC News on the trip made by the #bondibeach attack gunmen to the Philippines, allegedly for "military style training". IS operational capacity in the #Philippines has been low-level following a peak of activity around 2017-2019
Mali's Timbuktu region has been the focus of multiple pieces of #JNIM propaganda in recent weeks, where the group seems to be making extra efforts to win hearts and minds. This includes two statements condemning Africa Corps "executions" of civilians - a rarity since Wagner left in June
IS #Syria has officially claimed yesterday's attack in Aleppo which reportedly killed two Syrian govt customs officers. This comes on the heels of a rare attack - the first since 2018 - in Idlib province, traditionally a stronghold of HTS, and also rare #Islamicstate attacks in Homs and Hama
I spoke to @bellingcat.com about #JNIM's communication strategy in #Mali and how the group is articulating its ambitions at a critical point in the long-running jihadist insurgency Great immersive investigative piece from Sebastian Vandermeersch, and insights from Héni Nsaibia tinyurl.com/ys3exbh5
Mali Under Siege: Tracking the Fuel Blockade Crippling Bamako - bellingcat
Attacks by a jihadist group on fuel convoys bound for Bamako, the capital of Mali, have destroyed more than 130 tankers since September, a Bellingcat investigation has found. The systematic attacks b...
tinyurl.com
X's decision to display the geolocalisation of accounts has exposed dozens of prominent #Sahel pro-junta and pro-Russia influencers/trolls as based in the West, according to this article by LSI Africa. Many of them appear to be operating out of #France www.lsi-africa.com/fr/actualite...
Géolocalisation X : la France va activer l’arsenal juridique contre les propagandistes étrangers
La nouvelle géolocalisation de X a mis au jour une réalité embarrassante : nombre d’influenceurs pro-AES, se présentant comme des « patriotes africains », diffusent depuis la France ou d’autres pays o...
lsi-africa.com
The Catholic Bishops of Mali have cancelled a pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Kita in the western Kayes Region (scheduled for 29-30 November), citing the fuel crisis caused by #JNIM's blockade, according to Malijet malijet.com/a_la_une_du_...
Crise de Carburant : Les Évêques du Mali annulent le pèlerinage national de Kita 2025
Crise de Carburant : Les Évêques du Mali annulent le pèlerinage national de Kita 2025
malijet.com
On 31 October, UN Comtrade finally published 2024 gold import data from the UAE. The data showed undeniable increases in imports of gold linked to conflict, and known smuggling hubs of conflict (or "blood") gold. They are highlighted green, namely... (cont. below)
Further signs of tension in Bamako caused by #JNIM's fuel blockade. Local media in #Mali are reporting misconduct by police officers at gas stations in Bamako, accusing security forces of exacerbating the crisis through hoarding and resale bamada.net/crise-de-car...
