UN experts say the armed group now controls rural areas in eastern Menaka and large parts of the Ansongo area in northern Gao. The armed group ISIL (ISIS) has almost doubled its territory in Mali in less than a year, United Nations experts have said in a new report. That is the year when a military coup took place in the West African country and rebels in the north formed “an Islamic state” two months later. The 2015 peace agreement in Mali was signed by three parties: the government, a pro-government militia, and a coalition of groups who seek autonomy in the northern part of the country. They noted that Mali’s military rulers are watching the confrontation between ISIL and JNIM from a distance.

Source: The North Africa Journal August 27, 2023 21:10 UTC