'A common enemy, but not a common project': A fragile jihadist-separatist alliance in Mali

Jihadist fighters in Mali on Thursday called for a nationwide uprising against the ruling military junta, as they tightened a blockade on the capital, Bamako, following coordinated attacks alongside Tuareg separatists. The appeal came from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an affiliate of al Qaeda. It follows a series of joint offensives launched on Saturday that struck multiple towns and military positions across the country and reached as far as Bamako, the capital – marking the most serious escalation in Mali since 2012. In a statement, JNIM called for a “common front”, uniting “political parties, the national armed forces, religious authorities, traditional leaders and all components of Malian society” to “bring down the junta” and pave the way for what it described as a “peaceful and inclusive transition”. The developments came as Mali held a funeral for defence minister Sadio Camara, who was killed last weekend in an attack on his residence in Kati, a junta stronghold around 20 kilometres from the capital. A key architect of closer ties between Bamako and Russia, Camara was widely regarded as one of the regime’s most influential figures. His death has intensified pressure on the military junta led