Rival armed groups join forces against the Malian state: What next?

A series of coordinated attacks carried out by ⁠⁠armed groups across Mali has exposed security vulnerabilities in the military-ruled country, analysts say. Since gaining independence from French rule in 1960, the West African nation has navigated cycles of political instability, punctuated by persistent attacks from armed groups, military coups and financial crises. Recommended Stories list of 3 items end of list As French and international security operations leave the region, the rising influence of Russian mercenary groups over the past two years has signalled further security risks and rising violence. On Saturday, an al-Qaeda-linked group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) claimed responsibility for attacks on military sites across the country, including in the capital, Bamako. JNIM said it had “captured” the city of Kidal in the north in a coordinated operation with the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a Tuareg-dominated rebel group. On Sunday, a military source told Al Jazeera that Mali’s Defence Minister Sadio Camara had been killed during the attacks. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Mathias Hounkpe, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems’ country director for Mali said “If they [armed groups] were able to cover almost the whole country in one day, it means there are security vulnerabilities in the system.” “They have also been able to reach the city of Kati, where the president and other important ministers live. …