from RUDD KONTE in Bamako, Mali
Mali Bureau
BAMAKO, (CAJ News) – THE African Union (AU) has voiced deep concern over the rapidly worsening security and humanitarian situation in Mali, where armed extremist groups have tightened blockades, cut off vital supply routes, and intensified attacks on civilians across the northern and central regions.
AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf warned that the situation has reached a critical stage, urging urgent international intervention to prevent a full-scale humanitarian catastrophe.
“The African Union condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the deliberate targeting of civilians, which has resulted in unacceptable loss of life and growing instability across Mali,” Youssouf said.
He expressed solidarity with the government and people of Mali and extended condolences to the families of victims, reaffirming the AU’s unwavering commitment to peace, security, and sustainable development in the Sahel region.
Youssouf also denounced the recent kidnappings, including the abduction of three Egyptian nationals, calling for their immediate and unconditional release.
Such acts, he said, represent serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.
Calling for a coordinated global response, the AU chairperson urged enhanced intelligence sharing and stronger collaboration among regional and international partners to combat terrorism and violent extremism in the Sahel.
His appeal aligns with the Communiqué of the AU Peace and Security Council’s 1304th Ministerial Meeting, held on 30 September 2025, which emphasized joint counterterrorism efforts in Africa’s conflict zones.
“We must act swiftly and collectively to restore peace and stability,” Youssouf added, reaffirming the AU’s readiness to support Mali and other Sahel nations during this particularly challenging period.
Mali’s conflict, now entering its second decade, began in 2012 when Tuareg separatists in the north launched an armed rebellion seeking independence for the region they call Azawad.
However, the uprising was soon hijacked by Islamist extremist groups linked to al-Qaeda and later Islamic State (ISIS) affiliates.
The main militant organizations operating in Mali include Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) – an al-Qaeda affiliate formed in 2017, the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) – part of the ISIS network and the smaller local groups and splinter factions operating in alliance or rivalry with the larger movements.
These groups aim to impose strict Islamic law and undermine the authority of the Malian state.
They have exploited deep-rooted grievances over poverty, ethnic tensions, corruption, and marginalization of northern communities.
Foreign fighters, regional smuggling networks, and access to arms from Libya’s post-Gaddafi chaos have further fueled the insurgency.
Western and regional powers—including France, the United Nations, and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)—have intervened over the years, but instability persists.
Since 2022, Mali’s military-led government, backed by Russian Wagner mercenaries, has struggled to contain the violence after the withdrawal of French troops.
As of late 2025, vast areas of northern and central Mali remain outside government control, with tens of thousands of displaced and millions in need of humanitarian assistance.
The African Union, along with the ECOWAS and the United Nations, continue to press for a unified strategy to restore stability, strengthen governance, and address the root causes of extremism in Mali and the broader Sahel.
– CAJ News