The Trump administration is considering the possibility of a military operation in Mali
The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering the possibility of launching a military operation in Mali against the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) group, which is linked to al-Qaeda. This was reported by The Washington Post, citing current and former US officials familiar with the discussions.
According to the publication, there is no consensus among senior US officials on the advisability of a military operation. Sebastian Gorka, Senior Director for Counter-Terrorism at the US National Security Council, is said to be one of the advocates of using force.
The Pentagon declined to comment on any potential military plans. The White House has not confirmed whether a decision will be taken to carry out strikes in Mali, but has stated that the US is urging countries in North and West Africa to purchase American equipment and services to combat terrorist groups. They also described terrorism in the Sahel region as a multinational problem and called on NATO partners and allies to support the Sahel Alliance in the fight against JNIM and the ‘Islamic State’.
The Sahel Alliance comprises Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger. Following military coups in these countries, the new leaders have largely severed cooperation with the West and turned to Russia for security assistance.
A US administration spokesperson stated that Russia had “proved its ineffectiveness as a security partner for Mali” and expressed the hope that other African states would take note of the results of its counter-terrorism efforts.
According to The Washington Post, JNIM has significantly strengthened its position in Mali in recent years and expanded its activities in the coastal countries of West Africa. The newspaper notes that the group has become one of the most powerful in the region.
The article also states that Mali has been suffering from violence at the hands of Islamist groups for several years. To combat them, the country’s military authorities have enlisted Russian mercenaries, initially from the Wagner Group and later from the ‘African Corps’, which is linked to the Russian Ministry of Defence.
The Washington Post points out that should a US military operation commence, there would be a risk of clashes with Russian forces stationed in Mali. In such a scenario, coordination mechanisms between Washington and Moscow, similar to those in place during the war in Syria, may be required.
Some of the experts interviewed by the publication expressed doubts about the effectiveness of a new military intervention. They believe that a military scenario may not lead to a resolution of the conflict and point to previous military campaigns by France and Russia in the region, which failed to halt the spread of armed groups.
If the decision to launch strikes is taken, Mali will become the eighth country where President Donald Trump has authorised the use of US military force since the start of his second presidential term.
