Shocking news has emerged from Bamako, Mali, where Al-Qaeda-affiliated JNIM militants carried out deadly attacks on a police training center and an airport. Despite the official death toll not being announced, sources indicate that approximately 70 individuals have lost their lives, with hundreds more injured. The hospital is struggling to accommodate the influx of patients.
This wave of attacks has exposed the vulnerabilities in Mali’s security, challenging the junta’s claims of improved safety following the departure of French and U.S. forces. The decision to rely on Russian security measures now seems questionable in the face of such devastating incidents.
Al-Qaeda: A Threatening Force
Founded by Osama bin Laden, Al-Qaeda is a notorious international terrorist group, known for its operations during the Soviet war in Afghanistan. Operating as a Sunni Islamic movement, Al-Qaeda aims to combat non-Muslim influence in the Islamic world through transnational military networks. Governments worldwide have labeled Al-Qaeda as a terrorist organization, recognizing the severe threat it poses.