Jama‘at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin
| Abbreviation: | JNIM |
|---|---|
| Fields: | Politics |
| Case File: | Terrorist Organizations Main Page |
Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), also known as the "Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims," is a Salafi-jihadist militant organization formed on March 2, 2017, through the merger of four al-Qaeda-aligned groups: the Sahara branch of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), al-Mourabitoun, Ansar Dine, and the Macina Liberation Front (MLF). It operates primarily in the Sahel region, including Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, with presence also reported in Algeria, Libya, and parts of West Africa.
JNIM has declared itself the official al-Qaeda branch in Mali and pledges allegiance to al-Qaeda's global leadership. Its stated objectives include expelling foreign (particularly French and UN) forces from the Sahel, implementing Sharia law, and establishing an Islamic state. The group is led by Iyad Ag Ghali, a Malian Tuareg and former diplomat, with Amadou Koufa, a Fulani religious leader, serving as second-in-command.
Since its formation, JNIM has carried out numerous attacks, including suicide bombings, ambushes, and kidnappings, targeting military forces, peacekeepers, government installations, and Western interests. Notable attacks include the 2017 resort attack near Bamako, the 2018 Ouagadougou assaults, and a deadly 2024 attack in Burkina Faso's Barsalogho region. The U.S. designated JNIM as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2018.
According to the Global Terrorism Index 2024, JNIM was responsible for 1,099 deaths in 2023, marking a fourfold increase from the previous year and making it one of the deadliest terrorist groups in the world.
Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (Arabic: جماعة نصرة الإسلام والمسلمين, JNIM; French: Groupe de soutien à l'islam et aux musulmans, GSIM. 'Support Group for Islam and Muslims') is a Salafi Jihadist organization in the Maghreb and West Africa formed by the merger of Ansar Dine, al-Mourabitoun and the Saharan branch of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (a militant wing of Al-Qaeda). Its leaders swore allegiance to Ayman al-Zawahiri.
Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), also known as the "Support Group for Islam and Muslims," is a Salafi-jihadist organization formed on 2 March 2017 through the merger of four Al-Qaeda-aligned groups: Ansar Dine, al-Mourabitoun, the Saharan branch of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and Katiba Macina. It operates primarily in the Sahel region, with active presence in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Tunisia, Chad, Benin, Togo, and limited logistical activity in Ghana.
JNIM is an official affiliate of Al-Qaeda, and its leader, Iyad Ag Ghali, has pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda’s global leadership. The group seeks to establish a Salafi-Islamist state across West Africa, expel Western influence, and enforce a strict interpretation of Sharia law. As of 2025, it is considered the most heavily armed and active militant group in the Sahel, engaged in a multi-front war against national armies, UN peacekeepers, French forces, and rival jihadists like the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (IS-GS).
The group employs guerrilla tactics, including IEDs, suicide bombings, complex attacks, assassinations, and economic warfare—such as taxing communities, extorting traffickers, and controlling illicit trade. It also functions as a proto-state in controlled areas, administering justice, providing limited services, and regulating social behavior.
JNIM has been designated a terrorist organization by the United Nations, United States, United Kingdom, France, Russia, China, Canada, Australia, the European Union, NATO, and others. The U.S. designated it as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 2018.
