Mali announces 3 million euro reward to capture JNIM leader
The Malian authorities have unveiled a landmark initiative to bolster national security by offering a substantial reward for the capture of Iyad Ag Ghaly, the elusive leader of the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-linked armed group.
Iyad Ag Ghaly: the Sahel’s most wanted fugitive
In a nationally televised statement, the Malian government declared a bounty of two billion West African CFA francs—equivalent to approximately three million euros—for any verifiable information leading to the capture or neutralization of Iyad Ag Ghaly. Once a prominent Tuareg rebel leader, Ag Ghaly has since become the figurehead of the JNIM, a militant organization responsible for escalating insurgent activities across the Sahel over the past decade. His name appears on international sanctions lists, and he is pursued by both the United States and the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
Additional figures targeted in the manhunt
The Malian regime has expanded its reach by placing bounties on six more armed group leaders. Among them are Amadou Kouffa, a key JNIM strategist, as well as Alghabass Ag Intalla and Bilal Ag Cherif, heads of the Front de Libération de l’Azawad (FLA). Authorities allege these individuals orchestrated and executed deadly attacks against state forces in Mali.
A decisive move amid rising violence
This announcement follows coordinated assaults carried out in late April by JNIM and its FLA allies on multiple military installations. These coordinated offensives marked a significant escalation in the conflict, resulting in the tragic death of Defense Minister Sadio Camara, a central figure in the transitional military government.
