Gambiaj.com – (PARIS, France) – The head of France’s foreign intelligence service, Nicolas Lerner, has warned that the jihadist coalition Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate operating in Mali, is seeking the overthrow of the ruling military junta to pave the way for the establishment of a caliphate in parts of the country.
Lerner made the remarks on Monday during an interview with France Inter radio, amid growing concerns over escalating insecurity in Mali and parts of the wider Sahel.
According to Lerner, intelligence assessments indicate that while JNIM does not possess the capacity or even the direct intention to govern the entirety of Mali, its strategic objective is to destabilize and topple the military leadership.
“Everything suggests that JNIM wants the fall of the junta and wants the installation of a power that is indeed favorable to the installation of a caliphate on all or part of the Malian territory,” he said.
Fuel Blockade Choking Mali’s Economy
Over recent weeks, JNIM forces have intensified pressure on the landlocked country by targeting fuel supply routes and convoys, effectively cutting off fuel access in key regions, including the capital, Bamako.
The blockade has triggered widespread economic hardship in a country already struggling with inflation, insecurity, and limited access to basic goods.
This economic suffocation appears intended to weaken the junta’s grip on power, Lerner noted. The Malian military authorities have been in control since a 2020 coup and have since expelled French forces and aligned themselves with Russian military contractors in hopes of quelling jihadist groups. However, Lerner said this alternative security approach “is now largely failing.”
Western Countries Urge Citizens to Leave
The deteriorating security situation has prompted a wave of evacuations and travel warnings from Western nations. Last week, the United States and the United Kingdom withdrew non-essential personnel and their families. France followed on Friday, urging its citizens to leave Mali “as soon as possible.”
The moves underscore concerns that the conflict may escalate further, potentially deepening regional instability across the Sahel.
Africa: “Epicenter of Global Jihadism”
Beyond Mali, Lerner pointed to a broader shift in global extremist movements. He said Africa has “become the epicenter of jihadism,” with a rising number of attacks and growing recruitment of African nationals into militant leadership positions.
Militant violence has surged not only in the Sahel but also in Central Africa and the Horn of Africa.
“Africa is now the epicenter of terrorism and directly threatens our interests,” Lerner warned, drawing a connection between unchecked militant expansion and the risk of future international attacks.
He noted that the commemoration of the November 13, 2015, Paris terror attacks, which killed 130 people, serves as a reminder of the global repercussions of allowing extremist groups to establish territorial sanctuaries.
Authorities and analysts fear that unless strengthened regional coordination and international engagement are restored, militant networks may further consolidate control across fragile states in West and Central Africa, deepening conflict and humanitarian crises.
