The Malian authorities have unveiled a financial incentive program to encourage citizens to share information that could help locate key figures suspected of orchestrating attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure across the country. The announcement, made this week, underscores the government’s intensified efforts to curb the activities of armed groups operating in the Sahel region.
Under the new initiative, substantial cash rewards have been pledged for credible intelligence leading to the capture of high-profile militants. The highest bounty—3.55 million dollars—has been set for any tip that leads to the whereabouts of Iyad Ag Gali, the alleged leader of the Jamāʿat Nasr al-Islām wal-Muslimīn (JNIM). Lesser but still significant sums have been designated for several other individuals currently being pursued by security forces.
The list of wanted suspects includes El Ghabas Ag Antala, a prominent figure among separatist factions in northern Mali, who has been linked to coordinated insurgent activities in the region. Authorities emphasize that these financial incentives are part of a broader strategy to dismantle militant networks and restore stability in areas plagued by recurring violence.
This decision follows a series of high-profile attacks allegedly carried out by Al-Qaeda-affiliated groups in April, which resulted in the death of the Defense Minister and left several high-ranking officials injured. The surge in violence triggered widespread clashes in the expansive desert territories of northern Mali, raising concerns about the potential expansion of militant control in vulnerable zones.
The decree authorizing the rewards was formally signed in Bamako by General Daoud Ali Mohamedine, Mali’s Minister of Security and Civil Protection, signaling a decisive move by the government to mobilize public support in its counterterrorism campaign.