Mali crisis: Who are the key leaders to know about?

"Armed violence has intensified in Mali since Saturday after an al-Qaeda-linked armed group working with separatists attacked several military bases across multiple cities, including areas where senior government officials live, and took control of the northern city of Kidal."

"Malian Defence Minister Sadio Camara and his family were killed in their home in Kati, a military garrison close to the capital, Bamako, the government announced on Sunday."

"Al-Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) controls swaths of rural territory, especially in the north and central regions, and has active cells around the capital."

"The Liberation Front for Azawad (FLA) group, fighting for an independent nation called Azawad, also in the north, are clashing with the military and allied Russian mercenaries who have been deployed since 2021."

Mali is experiencing its most significant security crisis in years, marked by intensified armed violence from al-Qaeda-linked groups and Tuareg separatists. Recent attacks on military bases have led to the death of Defence Minister Sadio Camara and increased threats to Bamako. The Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) and the ISIL affiliate control various regions, while the Liberation Front for Azawad (FLA) seeks independence for Azawad. These groups often collaborate, complicating the security landscape as they vie for control over key territories.

Read at www.aljazeera.com