iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

A few observations about #JNIM's #Mali activity patterns in August - a month that saw multiple prisoner exchanges - Attacks dropped considerably cf July - Casualties remained high, driven by a handful of incidents - Attacks were more concentrated in central regions

031

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Wagner - and now Africa Corps - have always had a very transactional interest in Africa, especially the Sahel, I told BBC News. Great to be interviewed by @simijourno.bsky.social for this excellent piece reflecting on Russia's role countering the recent coup in Niger www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Niger coup attempt: Is Russia proving better at protecting friends than fighting enemies in West Africa?

Russian forces were brought in to help defeat jihadists but they also defend the military leadership in Niger.

000

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

It is striking how much warmer and full of praise JNIM's language has become when referring to their Tuareg "partners" (FLA). The statement on 4 July attacks in #Mali speaks of the FLA's "heroism", "sacrifice" and "valour". In April they got a cursory mention as "partners" and "brothers"

010

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

Several pro-IS sources have been circulating "news" of a large defection of rival #JNIM fighters to the ranks of IS #Sahel amid alleged internal divisions in JNIM's northern #BurkinaFaso branch. It is speculative at this stage - but one suggested that as many as 150 JNIM fighters may have defected

030

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 10/04/2026

A new video from pro-al-Qaeda group 'Ajnad Bayt al-Maqdis' has claimed attacks on US and Israeli military targets in Syria. Despite emerging as the #IranWar‌ began, the latest video stresses attacks are in support of Palestinians, possibly an attempt to distance itself from #Iran and its proxies

000

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

I've seen several Arabic social media posts recently claiming the Strait of #Hormuz should be renamed the "Strait of Khalid", after the 7th C. commander who defeated the #Persian commander Hormozd Jadhuyih at the Battle of the Chains in 633 (cont. below)

100

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Always a pleasure to speak to John Simpson on BBC's Unspun World. This time, we discussed Islamist militancy in West #Africa’s infamous “coup belt” region and why Russian mercenaries may be exacerbating insecurity #Sahel #Mali www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hg1...

youtube.com

Islamist militancy grows in West Africa's Sahel

YouTube video by BBC Monitoring

162

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

A language analysis of JNIM's Ramadan series "Nafhat Ramadan" reveals a strong predominance of Fulani/Peul - playing to #JNIM's main ethnic support base. Interesting that Bambara appeared only once despite recent militant focus on #Mali, and French not once. #Sahel #Africa

031

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 19/03/2026

In the last year, IS #Sahel attacks have been gradually creeping closer to #Niger's southern border with #Nigeria (red dots on map). So far, there have been no IS claims in NW Nigeria, but the notoriously porous border with Dosso makes this a distinct possibility

242

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Well worth watching this documentary from #BBCAfricaEye which managed to get rare frontline access to Puntland's fight against #IslamicState www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmIs...

youtube.com

Shadow War: Islamic State Group in Africa - BBC Africa Eye Documentary

YouTube video by BBC News Africa

000

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

My latest feature for BBC News explores why high-profile abductions of foreign nationals in the #Sahel spiked last year, and tells the stories of some of the victims and their families Thanks Heni Nsaibia from MENASTREAM for sharing your analysis www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

bbc.co.uk

Kidnapping of foreigners soars in Africa's lawless Sahel region

Growing insecurity in the Sahel made 2025 one of the worst years on record for the abduction of foreigners in Africa.

010

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 02/03/2026

Iran-based Baloch Sunni militant group Ansar al-Furqan have called on #Iranians to rise up against #Iran's leaders, saying "if you see the mujahideen in your vicinity, cooperate fully", providing contact details for further guidance

000

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 24/02/2026

A JNIM supporter video claims to show the aftermath of a "coordinated attack with the separatists" in Kidal, targeting a convoy of #Malian army and #Russian #AfricaCorps Evidence of coordination with Tuareg armed groups is rare, and JNIM does not admit such coordination

010

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 02/02/2026

2025 saw a significant increase in the kidnapping of foreign nationals in Africa’s #Sahel region. Around 40% of high-profile cases across Africa were #Chinese, many working in #Mali's gold-rich regions. Some 15% were #Indian nationals mainly working in energy and cement

111

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 29/01/2026

A photo circulating after last night's apparent attack on Niamey airport in #Niger shows a black and white flag featuring the Shahada - further indication of jihadist involvement. But still no claim from either #JNIM or #ISSahel

000

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 19/12/2025

As communities continue to feel the awful repercussions of Bondi, governments will be asking themselves what they can do to keep people safer... A wider interpretation of extremism may help flag dangerous individuals in future. My piece for @newstatesman1913.bsky.social tinyurl.com/332ec4fb

newstatesman.com

The Islamic State is taking advantage of a new kind of terrorist

They are liable to commit terrorist acts without any meaningful link to a terrorist ideology

010

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

Similar to the New Orleans attack in January, IS has obliquely taken credit for inspiring the #bondiattack in #Sydney - but not for being operationally involved. Fits an emerging pattern of IS claims since summer last year in which IS blurs the line of what constitutes an IS attack

110

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 16/12/2025

I shared some thoughts for BBC News on the trip made by the #bondibeach attack gunmen to the Philippines, allegedly for "military style training". IS operational capacity in the #Philippines has been low-level following a peak of activity around 2017-2019

151

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 08/12/2025

Mali's Timbuktu region has been the focus of multiple pieces of #JNIM propaganda in recent weeks, where the group seems to be making extra efforts to win hearts and minds. This includes two statements condemning Africa Corps "executions" of civilians - a rarity since Wagner left in June

020

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 04/12/2025

IS #Syria has officially claimed yesterday's attack in Aleppo which reportedly killed two Syrian govt customs officers. This comes on the heels of a rare attack - the first since 2018 - in Idlib province, traditionally a stronghold of HTS, and also rare #Islamicstate attacks in Homs and Hama

000

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 03/12/2025

I spoke to @bellingcat.com about #JNIM's communication strategy in #Mali and how the group is articulating its ambitions at a critical point in the long-running jihadist insurgency Great immersive investigative piece from Sebastian Vandermeersch, and insights from Héni Nsaibia tinyurl.com/ys3exbh5

tinyurl.com

Mali Under Siege: Tracking the Fuel Blockade Crippling Bamako - bellingcat

Attacks by a jihadist group on fuel convoys bound for Bamako, the capital of Mali, have destroyed more than 130 tankers since September, a Bellingcat investigation has found. The systematic attacks b...

041

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 01/12/2025

#JNIM claims killing 139+ people in its latest infographic poster rounding up attacks from November. Claimed fatalities fell from last month (187) but remain significantly higher than September (96) when resources began being poured into the #Mali fuel blockade

010

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 26/11/2025

X's decision to display the geolocalisation of accounts has exposed dozens of prominent #Sahel pro-junta and pro-Russia influencers/trolls as based in the West, according to this article by LSI Africa. Many of them appear to be operating out of #France www.lsi-africa.com/fr/actualite...

lsi-africa.com

Géolocalisation X : la France va activer l’arsenal juridique contre les propagandistes étrangers

La nouvelle géolocalisation de X a mis au jour une réalité embarrassante : nombre d’influenceurs pro-AES, se présentant comme des « patriotes africains », diffusent depuis la France ou d’autres pays o...

001

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

The latest #JNIM preaching photoset from #Mali shows unusually large crowds (seemingly around 100 in one photo), and almost a dozen individual locations Most previous examples of such propaganda typically focused on one or two locations and showed smaller gatherings

010

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

Sept-Nov have seen a return of heavy clashes between #JNIM and #IS Sahel, according to IS claims. Clashes on this scale have been unprecedented since late 2022, during territory disputes in eastern #Mali's Menaka region in the context of French troop withdrawal

120

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 13/11/2025

The Catholic Bishops of Mali have cancelled a pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Kita in the western Kayes Region (scheduled for 29-30 November), citing the fuel crisis caused by #JNIM's blockade, according to Malijet malijet.com/a_la_une_du_...

malijet.com

Crise de Carburant : Les Évêques du Mali annulent le pèlerinage national de Kita 2025

110

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 10/11/2025

Local Malian daily newspaper Le Soir de Bamako reports on the public execution of prominent TikToker by suspected jihadists. Shocking news like this couldn't come at a worse time for #Bamako, where tensions are already high after more than two months of #JNIM's blockade in southern #Mali

000

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 05/11/2025

On 31 October, UN Comtrade finally published 2024 gold import data from the UAE. The data showed undeniable increases in imports of gold linked to conflict, and known smuggling hubs of conflict (or "blood") gold. They are highlighted green, namely... (cont. below)

120

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

Further signs of tension in Bamako caused by #JNIM's fuel blockade. Local media in #Mali are reporting misconduct by police officers at gas stations in Bamako, accusing security forces of exacerbating the crisis through hoarding and resale bamada.net/crise-de-car...

140

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

There is good reason to be sceptical about JNIM's alleged link to the Kaiama attack in Nigeria's Kwara state - one that many have touted as "JNIM's first attack in Nigeria"

221

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

The moment that some forty fuel tankers reportedly arrived in Bamako on 29/30 Oct, after the govt struck a prisoner release deal with #JNIM. The group apparently immediately reimposed the blockade again after the convoy arrived, amidst a school shutdown in #Mali

010

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 29/10/2025

Yesterday's major ambush on the fuel convoy accompanied by the Malian army near the Kayes/Koulikoro border, seen in clips circulated in local groups

010

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

The second time #JNIM has claimed attacking fuel convoys in #Mali through its official al-Zallaqa media outlet. This attack allegedly took place today near Bamako, on the RN24, a key road going West to Kayes and then to Senegal, Mali's main source of fuel imports

100

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 27/10/2025

After initially trying to play down #JNIM's fuel blockade, the #Malian government's decision to suspend schools until 9 November is an admission of how serious the situation is becoming

100

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 23/10/2025

In recent weeks it has been unusual for #JNIM to broadcast its attacks on fuel tankers in #Mali through its centralised al-Zallaqa media outlet. Claims for these attacks have largely come informally through locally circulated videos, often with the new "al-Fath" branding

100

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 14/10/2025

It’s that time of year again. BBC Monitoring's jihadist media team just published its data-driven quarterly report on jihadism in sub-Saharan #Africa for Q3 2025 Each quarter we look at the key developments in the five main African conflict zones where jihadist groups operate

100

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 13/10/2025

This video apparently shows a #JNIM spox warning Malians in Bambara against helping the military, to comply with JNIM as blockade enters 6th week Note unusual media branding: "al-Fath Channel" (Chaine al-Fath), apparently a new - or little known - media outlet carrying messages in local languages

010

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Following its deadly ambush on the main road between Bamako and Segou in #Mali on 1 Oct, #JNIM circulated footage from the scene showing several bodies, apparently Malian soldiers

132

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 30/09/2025

Last week I spoke to @johnsimpsonnews.bsky.social on BBC2's Unspun World about Ahmed al-Sharaa's appearance at the UN, #Syria's reintegration into the international and MENA regional community, and prospects for the future Syrian social contract

291

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

Despite the rise in attacks, #JNIM casualty rates in #Mali tend to be much lower than in Burkina Faso, possibly reflecting the relative vulnerability of VDPs in #Burkina. The average number of casualties in Burkina Faso throughout 2025 was 4.2 per attack. In Mali, it was only 1.5

152

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 26/09/2025

For the first time in many months, #JNIM claimed more attacks in #Mali than in #BurkinaFaso so far in September, reflecting the group's strategic shift to the country since approximately June

142

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

Videos circulating appear to show #JNIM's Sunday attack on fuel tankers in Mali originating from Senegal

100

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 12/09/2025

Interesting new report from the Timbuktu Institute explaining the importance of #Mali's western Kayes region - important context for understanding why #JNIM has been focusing its attacks on the region and the south in general in recent months timbuktu-institute.org/index.php/to...

timbuktu-institute.org

Rapport : Le JNIM à Kayes - Fragilisation économique et menace transfrontalière

Télécharger le rapport intégral Kayes, première région administrative du Mali créée par la loi n°60-3-A.L.R.S du 7 juin 1960, occupe une position stratégique tant sur le plan géographique que sociopol...

100

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 11/09/2025

Breaking: #JNIM claims "significant" IED attack on a Malian army convoy accompanied by Russian Africa Corps troops near the northern city of Kidal, #Mali. Statement says attack took place on 9 Sept.

100

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

New photos from #JNIM's "Commander Mansour Ag al-Qasem training camp" in Mali. The group seems to be really trying to project strength in #Mali by pushing its training facilities there

100

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 09/09/2025

The Malian army (FAMa) said yesterday that security forces were responding vigorously to "new tactics" by militant groups. This most likely refers to JNIM's weeklong fuel "blockade" in western/southern Mali (see below). Although FAMa spox downplayed the blockade as "propaganda"

000

Jacob Boswall @jboswall.bsky.social · 08/09/2025

Geographical map shows how recent #JNIM attacks in Mali have clustered around vital trade routes neighbouring to Mauritania, Senegal and (further south) Ivory Coast

100