Mali extremist group JNIM seizes military base in north.

In the Kidal region of Mali, the extremist group Jama’at Nusrat al‑Islam wal‑Muslimin (JNIM) has recently seized a base that had previously been manned by Malian troops and Russia’s African Corps. The installation, located on the outskirts of Tessalit, had been jointly defended by Mali’s army and Russian forces until their withdrawal, after which JNIM swiftly took control.

The incident is closely tied to the global phenomenon of jihadism. Jihadism is a modern armed Islamist movement that seeks to establish a state based on Islamic principles. Proponents view armed struggle as an effective and legitimate means of achieving socio‑political change. The ideology traces its roots to the late nineteenth and early twentieth‑century Islamic revivalist movements, later evolving into Qutbism and Salafi jihadism. Throughout the twentieth and twenty‑first centuries, jihadist thought has grown, with scholars framing jihad as a “revolutionary struggle” aimed at overthrowing the international order and unifying the Muslim world under Sharia law.

During the Soviet–Afghan War (1979‑1989), Islamic fighters intensified the rise of jihadism, which subsequently spread across various armed conflicts. Since the 1990s, the influence of jihadist groups has expanded markedly. Estimates suggest that only 5 % of civil wars in 1990 involved jihadist organizations, whereas today more than 40 % of civil conflicts involve such groups. Their operations span the globe, from the Middle East and North Africa to South and Southeast Asia.

JNIM, founded in 2017, is one of the active jihadist organisations operating in Mali and the Sahel. Its stated goal is to unify jihadist forces in the region. The group poses a significant threat to Mali’s security and challenges the military presence of France and other Western nations in the area.

In Mali, JNIM’s activities are closely linked to local ethnic and religious tensions. The country is multi‑ethnic and multi‑religious, with the northern regions long serving as a hotbed for jihadist activity. JNIM’s rise is tied to local grievances and resentment; the organisation has exploited dissatisfaction with the government and foreign influence to expand its reach.

For Taiwan, the jihadist ideology and JNIM’s operations in Mali and the Sahel may appear distant, yet they are crucial for understanding international dynamics and global security challenges. The spread of jihadist thought and the activities of groups like JNIM constitute a major component of worldwide security threats, posing significant risks to national stability. Moreover, the situation in Mali and the Sahel challenges the military presence of France and other Western powers, influencing the evolution of global security. Therefore, monitoring these events and ideological developments is essential for Taiwan’s comprehension of international affairs and global security concerns.