https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce8d996x1r0o
A recent attack on Mali-based military training school has been confirmed as Al-Qaeda driven. Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a Jihadist group with direct relations to Al-Qaeda, sent armed men to a military training school and a military airport to attack the people. The group hit the city of Bamako, which had successfully avoided Islam’s conflicts for several years. Several victims were killed, even more injured and rushed to the hospital. Local officials had claimed the violence was under control, but reports came back soon after warning people of more attacks at a nearby airport. JNIM also said they had taken control of the military airport they’d previously attacked, but Malian officials continued to explain that they were controlling the situation.
I find that this event could become a major turning point in the Islam-Africa conflicts. Because this was the first attack Bamako received for over a decade, I think it might turn more people’s heads and start a larger cause for change. The attacks were said to continue, which means Bamako has officially been dragged into the situation after years of attempting to keep peace. Because the UN has been told to wait to send assistance to Mali, the attacks will continue. I think the extra tension caused from the sudden attack on Bamako is adding to the strain between Africa and Islam, and will cause more action from Africa to be taken.
Bamako, having stayed out of conflict for so long, most likely will not have much impact on ending JNIM’s attacks. In comparison to the Islan organization, Mali has little and weak military forces, so their attempts to fight back have and will be proven unsuccessful. I would assume that JNIM will not end their attacks, but based on the interest and help Bamako has been getting from Russia, they might not be alone in their battle. For the next several days, I predict that the Malian government will continue to put up a facade for the people, and claim that they have the situation under control.
One way the situation between JNIM and Bamako relates to the material we learn in class is that Al-Qaeda and its branches are considered NGO’s. Non-governmental organizations are groups of people that have an influence on what they believe, but are not associated with their governments. Terrorist organizations are included in this category. Groups like Al-Qaeda have major influence because of their enforced violence and the power they have over countries with weaker militaries. The situation also shows the influence of IGO’s such as the UN. The UN was able to have French military troops in Mali, but they stayed utterly silent about the entire situation. This is because they have the power of several countries that are legally obligated to assist each other.