Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin has claimed responsibility for attacks targeting Malian army positions, while separate field footage shows prominent Tuareg tribal leaders in northern Mali declaring support for the Azawad Liberation Front in Kidal, signaling evolving alliances on the ground.
In a military statement, the group said its fighters carried out attacks on several military sites “this morning,” resulting in full control of the Hombori barracks in the Douentza region, as well as the capture of two checkpoints in the towns of Fana and Kassela near the capital, Bamako.
In parallel developments, video footage from Kidal shows a gathering of prominent Tuareg tribal leaders announcing their support for the Azawad Liberation Front.
One video features Salem Ag Inbassa, who identified himself as the head of the Imaklalan tribe and president of the Coordination of Imghad Tribes in Kidal, standing alongside tribal notables and military figures.
He stated that the decision to join the Front was taken “with full conviction” and represented a collective decision by tribal elders, calling on other tribes to follow suit.
Another video shows Ahkook Ag Al-Maghmar, a leader of the Imghad Arghanayn tribe, confirming his tribe’s alignment with the Front and emphasizing their readiness to support it.
These developments come amid rapidly shifting dynamics in northern Mali, with increasing signs of coordination between armed groups, raising questions about emerging power structures in the region.
