Mali’s Al Qaeda Branch Offers €2 Million Bounty for President’s Capture

DAKAR, June 12 (Reuters) – Mali’s ⁠local ⁠al Qaeda affiliate ⁠Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has offered ​millions of euros for information on the whereabouts ‌of the president and ‌top military officials, describing the ⁠government ⁠as an illegitimate entity.

• The insurgents’ statement on ​Thursday follows a similar offer made by the government for information leading to JNIM leader ​Iyad Ag Ghaly, and other militant figures.

• It ⁠was ⁠shared by the SITE ⁠Intelligence ​Group, which tracks jihadist activity and communications worldwide.

• Al ​Qaeda-linked attacks ⁠in April that killed Mali’s defence minister set off fighting across the country’s vast desert north, raising the prospect of ⁠significant gains by armed groups.

• JNIM offered €2 million for ⁠information leading to Assimi Goita, leader of the government in the capital, Bamako, who took power following coups in 2020 and 2021.

• The notice also offered €1 million each for information about Colonel Lassina Diallo and General Malik Dicko.

• It ⁠said the reward would be paid to anyone offering information leading to their locations or anyone taking concrete action to “neutralise” ​them.

(Reporting by Jessica Donati;Editing by Anait ​Miridzhanian and Helen Popper)

Copyright 2026 Thomson Reuters.

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