Jacob Boswall
@jboswall.bsky.social
BBC journalist/analyst following security and conflict stories // aspiring beekeeper
Still also at https://x.com/Boswall_Jacob
Still also at https://x.com/Boswall_Jacob
Local #Niger media is suggesting that "mortar fire" targeted Niamey's international airport last night, lending credibility to the idea that an armed group - possibly #JNIM - might have launched an attack. No official claim from any group, though
www.actuniger.com/societe/2172...
www.actuniger.com/societe/2172...
Niger : situation calme et maîtrisée à Niamey après une nuit agitée suite à des détonations et des tirs dans la zone de l’aéroport
Le calme est revenu ce jeudi matin à Niamey, après une nuit agitée qui a provoqué une véritable panique dans la capitale. Aux environs de minuit (heure locale), de fortes détonations suivies d’échang...
www.actuniger.com
January 29, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Local #Niger media is suggesting that "mortar fire" targeted Niamey's international airport last night, lending credibility to the idea that an armed group - possibly #JNIM - might have launched an attack. No official claim from any group, though
www.actuniger.com/societe/2172...
www.actuniger.com/societe/2172...
As communities continue to feel the awful repercussions of Bondi, governments will be asking themselves what they can do to keep people safer... A wider interpretation of extremism may help flag dangerous individuals in future. My piece for @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/332ec4fb
tinyurl.com/332ec4fb
The Islamic State is taking advantage of a new kind of terrorist
They are liable to commit terrorist acts without any meaningful link to a terrorist ideology
www.newstatesman.com
December 19, 2025 at 10:14 AM
As communities continue to feel the awful repercussions of Bondi, governments will be asking themselves what they can do to keep people safer... A wider interpretation of extremism may help flag dangerous individuals in future. My piece for @newstatesman1913.bsky.social
tinyurl.com/332ec4fb
tinyurl.com/332ec4fb
Similar to the New Orleans attack in January, IS has obliquely taken credit for inspiring the #bondiattack in #Sydney - but not for being operationally involved. Fits an emerging pattern of IS claims since summer last year in which IS blurs the line of what constitutes an IS attack
December 18, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Similar to the New Orleans attack in January, IS has obliquely taken credit for inspiring the #bondiattack in #Sydney - but not for being operationally involved. Fits an emerging pattern of IS claims since summer last year in which IS blurs the line of what constitutes an IS attack
I shared some thoughts for BBC News on the trip made by the #bondibeach attack gunmen to the Philippines, allegedly for "military style training". IS operational capacity in the #Philippines has been low-level following a peak of activity around 2017-2019
December 16, 2025 at 5:15 PM
I shared some thoughts for BBC News on the trip made by the #bondibeach attack gunmen to the Philippines, allegedly for "military style training". IS operational capacity in the #Philippines has been low-level following a peak of activity around 2017-2019
Mali's Timbuktu region has been the focus of multiple pieces of #JNIM propaganda in recent weeks, where the group seems to be making extra efforts to win hearts and minds. This includes two statements condemning Africa Corps "executions" of civilians - a rarity since Wagner left in June
December 8, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Mali's Timbuktu region has been the focus of multiple pieces of #JNIM propaganda in recent weeks, where the group seems to be making extra efforts to win hearts and minds. This includes two statements condemning Africa Corps "executions" of civilians - a rarity since Wagner left in June
IS #Syria has officially claimed yesterday's attack in Aleppo which reportedly killed two Syrian govt customs officers. This comes on the heels of a rare attack - the first since 2018 - in Idlib province, traditionally a stronghold of HTS, and also rare #Islamicstate attacks in Homs and Hama
December 4, 2025 at 10:59 AM
IS #Syria has officially claimed yesterday's attack in Aleppo which reportedly killed two Syrian govt customs officers. This comes on the heels of a rare attack - the first since 2018 - in Idlib province, traditionally a stronghold of HTS, and also rare #Islamicstate attacks in Homs and Hama
I spoke to @bellingcat.com about #JNIM's communication strategy in #Mali and how the group is articulating its ambitions at a critical point in the long-running jihadist insurgency
Great immersive investigative piece from Sebastian Vandermeersch, and insights from Héni Nsaibia
tinyurl.com/ys3exbh5
Great immersive investigative piece from Sebastian Vandermeersch, and insights from Héni Nsaibia
tinyurl.com/ys3exbh5
Mali Under Siege: Tracking the Fuel Blockade Crippling Bamako - bellingcat
Attacks by a jihadist group on fuel convoys bound for Bamako, the capital of Mali, have destroyed more than 130 tankers since September, a Bellingcat investigation has found. The systematic attacks b...
tinyurl.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:55 PM
I spoke to @bellingcat.com about #JNIM's communication strategy in #Mali and how the group is articulating its ambitions at a critical point in the long-running jihadist insurgency
Great immersive investigative piece from Sebastian Vandermeersch, and insights from Héni Nsaibia
tinyurl.com/ys3exbh5
Great immersive investigative piece from Sebastian Vandermeersch, and insights from Héni Nsaibia
tinyurl.com/ys3exbh5
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...
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
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...
www.lsi-africa.com/fr/actualite...
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_...
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
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_...
malijet.com/a_la_une_du_...
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
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)
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...
bamada.net/crise-de-car...
November 4, 2025 at 9:00 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...
bamada.net/crise-de-car...
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
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"
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
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
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
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
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
Each quarter we look at the key developments in the five main African conflict zones where jihadist groups operate
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
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
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
Note unusual media branding: "al-Fath Channel" (Chaine al-Fath), apparently a new - or little known - media outlet carrying messages in local languages