00:23A major security crisis is unfolding in West Africa,
00:28as coordinated militant attacks across Mali have exposed deep cracks
00:33in the country's stability, despite years of foreign military backing.
00:38In one of the most widespread offensives in recent years,
00:42multiple armed groups launched near-simultaneous strikes
00:46across key cities, including Bamako, Khati, Gao, Mapti, and Kedal.
00:53These were not isolated attacks.
00:55They were coordinated, strategic, and highly symbolic.
00:59At the center of this offensive were two very different groups,
01:04the jihadist network, JNINM, linked to al-Qaeda,
01:08and the separatist Azawad Liberation Front,
01:11a Tuareg-led coalition seeking independence in northern Mali.
01:15Despite ideological differences, the two joined forces against a common enemy,
01:20the Malian military government, and its foreign backers.
01:24Videos released by these groups show intense combat,
01:28captured military equipment, and attacks on checkpoints and bases.
01:32Some claims even suggest that parts of northern regions like Kedal and Gao
01:37were seized or brought under partial control.
01:40Kedal, in particular, carries huge symbolic weight.
01:44It has long been a stronghold of Tuareg separatists,
01:47and its control often signals shifting power in the north.
01:51On the other side, Mali's military junta and Russian-backed Africa Corps forces
01:57say they repelled the attacks, secured key installations,
02:01and prevented what they describe as a major destabilization attempt.
02:05Russia-linked sources have gone even further,
02:08calling this one of the largest militant offensives in recent times,
02:12and alleging foreign involvement, including Western or Ukrainian elements.
02:17However, there is no independent verification of those claims,
02:21and analysts say such narratives often form part of a broader information war.
02:27What is clear, though, is that the situation remains volatile.
02:31While the government insists things are under control,
02:35reports indicate that forces may have withdrawn from certain northern areas,
02:39raising fresh concerns about who really holds ground.
02:43So how did Mali reach this point?
02:46To understand that, we need to go back decades.
02:49The roots of this conflict lie in long-standing grievances in northern Mali,
02:54particularly among Tuareg communities,
02:56who have repeatedly felt politically and economically marginalized
03:00by the central government.
03:02Rebellions have erupted multiple times,
03:05from the 1960s to the 1990s, and most significantly in 2012.
03:10That year, a Tuareg uprising was quickly overtaken by jihadist groups,
03:15turning a nationalist movement into a broader extremist insurgency.
03:20France intervened in 2013 to stop militants from advancing toward the capital,
03:25launching a major counter-terror operation.
03:28For nearly a decade, French forces remained deeply involved in Mali,
03:33conducting military operations and targeting extremist leaders across the region.
03:38But over time, criticism grew.
03:41Many argued the strategy focused too heavily on military action,
03:45while ignoring deeper issues like governance failures, corruption, and local grievances.
03:51This led to rising anti-French sentiment, and eventually a dramatic shift.
03:56Between 2020 and 2021, Mali saw military coups that brought Colonel Asima Goita to power.
04:04The new junta expelled French forces, pushed out UN peacekeepers, and turned instead to Russia for support.
04:11Enter Russia's Africa Corps, the successor to the Wagner Group.
04:16They offered what experts call a regime survival package, combat support, training, and political backing,
04:23in exchange for influence and access to resources like gold.
04:26But despite this shift, violence has not decreased.
04:31In fact, attacks have intensified in many regions, with both jihadist and separatist groups adapting their strategies.
04:38The latest offensive highlights a key reality.
04:41Even with foreign military backing, Mali's deeper problems remain unresolved.
04:47Weak state presence, ethnic tensions, economic hardship, and allegations of abuses by security forces continue to fuel recruitment for insurgent
04:57groups.
04:57And alliances like the one between JNINM and the Azawad Liberation Front show how fluid and opportunistic this conflict has
05:06become.
05:06This is not just a fight between ideologies.
05:09It is a complex battlefield, shaped by local grievances, regional instability, and global power competition.
05:17As of now, the situation in Mali remains tense and unpredictable.
05:22The government claims control, militant groups claim gains, and the truth, as often in conflict zones, lies somewhere in between.
05:30What is certain is this.
05:32Despite years of international intervention, Mali's conflict is far from over and may be entering a new, more dangerous phase.
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