– Bamako, Mali
The military government in Bamako has announced cash rewards for information on several high-profile militants. The move seeks individuals linked to deadly attacks against government targets earlier this year.
The largest reward, 2 billion CFA francs (about $3.5 million), is offered for information leading to the capture of Iyad Ag Ghaly, leader of JNIM, al-Qaeda’s main affiliate operating in the Sahel. Smaller, but still significant, sums are offered for other figures, including his lieutenant Amadou Kouffa and Tuareg separatist leader Alghabass Ag Intalla.
This comes after major coordinated attacks in April that killed Mali’s defense minister and triggered intense fighting in the north of the country. The attacks, carried out by JNIM fighters alongside Tuareg rebels, exposed serious security deficiencies within the ruling military junta.
The order was signed by Major General Daoud Aly Mohammedine, Mali's Minister of Security and Civil Protection. According to authorities, the rewards aim to obtain information about those responsible for planning and executing attacks against civilians, security forces, and state infrastructure.
The program reflects Bamako's strategy of weakening militant networks through intelligence and incentives, rather than relying solely on military action. Its success will depend on the cooperation of local communities and individuals with knowledge of these groups' movements.