Mali regime offers €3 million to capture JNIM leader
The Malian authorities have announced a historic reward of two billion West African CFA francs for any credible information leading to the capture or neutralization of Iyad Ag Ghaly, the leader of the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate. This unprecedented move comes amid escalating security challenges in the region.
Iyad Ag Ghaly: the Sahel’s most wanted figure
A televised government statement confirmed the two billion CFA franc reward—equivalent to approximately three million euros—for reliable intelligence on Iyad Ag Ghaly. Once a Tuareg rebel leader, he now heads JNIM, which has become a central force in the decade-long jihadist insurgency gripping the Sahel. Already sanctioned by the United Nations, he faces arrest warrants from both the United States and the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Six other armed leaders also targeted
The Malian government has extended its bounty to six additional armed figures, including Amadou Kouffa, a prominent JNIM commander, as well as Alghabass Ag Intalla and Bilal Ag Cherif, leaders of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). Authorities accuse these individuals of orchestrating and executing attacks against state targets.
Response to rising violence
This announcement follows coordinated offensives in late April, when JNIM and its allies launched attacks on multiple strategic military positions across Mali. The assaults marked a significant escalation in the conflict and resulted in the death of Defense Minister Sadio Camara, a key figure in the transitional military regime.