The Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) armed group has taken control of the Kayes barracks in Mali.
A security analyst and counterin-surgency expert in the lakechad region and West Africa Zagazola Makama said the development comes amid escalating tensions and violence in the region.
The JNIM, a prominent militant group in the Sahel, has been responsible for several attacks on military and civilian targets in recent years.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Bomb Attack Killed 8 People in Somalia
However, in a bid to address the escalating violence and instability in Mali, the High Islamic Council, led by Cherif Ousmane Madani Haidara and Gen. Yamoussa Camara, has called for dialogue with all armed groups in the country.
The move comes as the military and civilian populations grow increasingly dissatisfied with the current situation, with extremist groups like JNIM expanding their control in southern Mali.
The council’s initiative aims to bring together various stakeholders to find a peaceful resolution to the crisis, but the challenges ahead are significant.
JNIM’s involvement in the illicit logging economy has contributed to deforestation and instability in the region, adding complexity to the situation.
The success of the dialogue remains uncertain, but the High Islamic Council’s effort marks a crucial step towards addressing Mali’s growing instability.
READ ALSO: Niger, Burkina Faso Withdraw from G5-Sahel
Meanwhile, another crisis unfolding in Mali as Major General Oumar Diarra, Chief of General Staff of the Armed Forces, has submitted his resignation to Transitional President Col. Assimi Goita.
The reason for his resignation is unclear, and it is uncertain whether it has been accepted.
The development comes amid rising tensions within the military junta, particularly between Goita and Camara, as well as between Diarra and Col. Sadio Camara and Col. Modibo Kone.