Jacob Boswall
jboswall.bsky.social
Jacob Boswall
@jboswall.bsky.social
BBC journalist tracking jihadist groups worldwide // aspiring beekeeper

Still also at https://x.com/Boswall_Jacob
X's decision to display the geolocalisation of accounts has exposed dozens of prominent #Sahel pro-junta and pro-Russia influencers/trolls as based in the West, according to this article by LSI Africa. Many of them appear to be operating out of #France

www.lsi-africa.com/fr/actualite...
Géolocalisation X : la France va activer l’arsenal juridique contre les propagandistes étrangers
La nouvelle géolocalisation de X a mis au jour une réalité embarrassante : nombre d’influenceurs pro-AES, se présentant comme des « patriotes africains », diffusent depuis la France ou d’autres pays o...
www.lsi-africa.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:03 PM
The latest #JNIM preaching photoset from #Mali shows unusually large crowds (seemingly around 100 in one photo), and almost a dozen individual locations

Most previous examples of such propaganda typically focused on one or two locations and showed smaller gatherings
November 24, 2025 at 11:37 AM
Sept-Nov have seen a return of heavy clashes between #JNIM and #IS Sahel, according to IS claims. Clashes on this scale have been unprecedented since late 2022, during territory disputes in eastern #Mali's Menaka region in the context of French troop withdrawal
November 14, 2025 at 5:23 PM
The Catholic Bishops of Mali have cancelled a pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Kita in the western Kayes Region (scheduled for 29-30 November), citing the fuel crisis caused by #JNIM's blockade, according to Malijet

malijet.com/a_la_une_du_...
Crise de Carburant : Les Évêques du Mali annulent le pèlerinage national de Kita 2025
Crise de Carburant : Les Évêques du Mali annulent le pèlerinage national de Kita 2025
malijet.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:23 AM
Local Malian daily newspaper Le Soir de Bamako reports on the public execution of prominent TikToker by suspected jihadists. Shocking news like this couldn't come at a worse time for #Bamako, where tensions are already high after more than two months of #JNIM's blockade in southern #Mali
November 10, 2025 at 11:20 AM
On 31 October, UN Comtrade finally published 2024 gold import data from the UAE. The data showed undeniable increases in imports of gold linked to conflict, and known smuggling hubs of conflict (or "blood") gold. They are highlighted green, namely... (cont. below)
November 5, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Further signs of tension in Bamako caused by #JNIM's fuel blockade. Local media in #Mali are reporting misconduct by police officers at gas stations in Bamako, accusing security forces of exacerbating the crisis through hoarding and resale

bamada.net/crise-de-car...
November 4, 2025 at 9:00 AM
There is good reason to be sceptical about JNIM's alleged link to the Kaiama attack in Nigeria's Kwara state - one that many have touted as "JNIM's first attack in Nigeria"
October 31, 2025 at 7:12 PM
The moment that some forty fuel tankers reportedly arrived in Bamako on 29/30 Oct, after the govt struck a prisoner release deal with #JNIM. The group apparently immediately reimposed the blockade again after the convoy arrived, amidst a school shutdown in #Mali
October 31, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Yesterday's major ambush on the fuel convoy accompanied by the Malian army near the Kayes/Koulikoro border, seen in clips circulated in local groups
October 29, 2025 at 8:35 AM
The second time #JNIM has claimed attacking fuel convoys in #Mali through its official al-Zallaqa media outlet. This attack allegedly took place today near Bamako, on the RN24, a key road going West to Kayes and then to Senegal, Mali's main source of fuel imports
October 28, 2025 at 3:52 PM
After initially trying to play down #JNIM's fuel blockade, the #Malian government's decision to suspend schools until 9 November is an admission of how serious the situation is becoming
October 27, 2025 at 3:09 PM
In recent weeks it has been unusual for #JNIM to broadcast its attacks on fuel tankers in #Mali through its centralised al-Zallaqa media outlet. Claims for these attacks have largely come informally through locally circulated videos, often with the new "al-Fath" branding
October 23, 2025 at 9:17 AM
It’s that time of year again. BBC Monitoring's jihadist media team just published its data-driven quarterly report on jihadism in sub-Saharan #Africa for Q3 2025

Each quarter we look at the key developments in the five main African conflict zones where jihadist groups operate
October 14, 2025 at 10:39 AM
This video apparently shows a #JNIM spox warning Malians in Bambara against helping the military, to comply with JNIM as blockade enters 6th week

Note unusual media branding: "al-Fath Channel" (Chaine al-Fath), apparently a new - or little known - media outlet carrying messages in local languages
October 13, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Following its deadly ambush on the main road between Bamako and Segou in #Mali on 1 Oct, #JNIM circulated footage from the scene showing several bodies, apparently Malian soldiers
October 3, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Last week I spoke to @johnsimpsonnews.bsky.social on BBC2's Unspun World about Ahmed al-Sharaa's appearance at the UN, #Syria's reintegration into the international and MENA regional community, and prospects for the future Syrian social contract
September 30, 2025 at 9:32 AM
Despite the rise in attacks, #JNIM casualty rates in #Mali tend to be much lower than in Burkina Faso, possibly reflecting the relative vulnerability of VDPs in #Burkina. The average number of casualties in Burkina Faso throughout 2025 was 4.2 per attack. In Mali, it was only 1.5
September 26, 2025 at 10:04 AM
For the first time in many months, #JNIM claimed more attacks in #Mali than in #BurkinaFaso so far in September, reflecting the group's strategic shift to the country since approximately June
September 26, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Videos circulating appear to show #JNIM's Sunday attack on fuel tankers in Mali originating from Senegal
September 15, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Interesting new report from the Timbuktu Institute explaining the importance of #Mali's western Kayes region - important context for understanding why #JNIM has been focusing its attacks on the region and the south in general in recent months

timbuktu-institute.org/index.php/to...
Rapport : Le JNIM à Kayes - Fragilisation économique et menace transfrontalière
Télécharger le rapport intégral Kayes, première région administrative du Mali créée par la loi n°60-3-A.L.R.S du 7 juin 1960, occupe une position stratégique tant sur le plan géographique que sociopol...
timbuktu-institute.org
September 12, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Breaking: #JNIM claims "significant" IED attack on a Malian army convoy accompanied by Russian Africa Corps troops near the northern city of Kidal, #Mali. Statement says attack took place on 9 Sept.
September 11, 2025 at 12:20 PM
New photos from #JNIM's "Commander Mansour Ag al-Qasem training camp" in Mali. The group seems to be really trying to project strength in #Mali by pushing its training facilities there
September 9, 2025 at 9:24 AM
The Malian army (FAMa) said yesterday that security forces were responding vigorously to "new tactics" by militant groups. This most likely refers to JNIM's weeklong fuel "blockade" in western/southern Mali (see below). Although FAMa spox downplayed the blockade as "propaganda"
Geographical map shows how recent #JNIM attacks in Mali have clustered around vital trade routes neighbouring to Mauritania, Senegal and (further south) Ivory Coast
September 9, 2025 at 7:45 AM
Geographical map shows how recent #JNIM attacks in Mali have clustered around vital trade routes neighbouring to Mauritania, Senegal and (further south) Ivory Coast
September 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM