Jihadist group JNIM has set fire to dozens of vehicles, including fuel tankers and trucks, near Mali's capital Bamako as part of a blockade that has worsened since attacking the city last month. The blockade is causing fuel shortages and sharp increases in goods prices ahead of Eid al-Adha next week.
21 May 2026 · Joy Online →
US President Donald Trump's new counter-terrorism strategy for Africa replaces long-term troop deployments and nation-building with short-term campaigns and cooperation with local authorities, using defined timelines and targets to eliminate threats before withdrawing. The strategy aims to prevent Jihadist groups from establishing bases threatening US interests and to protect Christians from attacks, while also expanding the definition of terrorism to include drug cartels and left-wing anarchists.
21 May 2026 · Business & Financial Times →
Security analyst Dr Victor Doke argues that the killing of Islamic State commander Abu-Bilal al-Minuki in a joint US-Nigerian operation represents a tactical victory but is unlikely to cripple extremist networks in West Africa. Doke notes that groups like ISWAP are structured to survive the deaths of their leaders through succession planning.
21 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Dozens of vehicles including fuel tankers, minibuses and trucks have been set on fire near Mali's capital Bamako as the jihadist group JNIM, affiliated to al-Qaeda, tightens a fuel blockade on the city. The militants have kidnapped drivers and burnt more than 100 fuel trucks on major highways since last year in an effort to weaken Mali's economy and military leadership.
21 May 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's Minister for Lands and Natural Resources called for good neighbourliness and coordinated cross-border governance at a sub-regional consultation between Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Mali to address challenges such as security threats, smuggling, and irregular migration. The Ghana Boundary Commission noted this was the first time sub-regional border commissions were meeting to coordinate cross-border agreements and align national priorities.
21 May 2026 · Joy Online →