The Malian government has initiated a robust program, declaring on Thursday the allocation of substantial financial rewards for any intelligence that aids in pinpointing individuals suspected by authorities of complicity in assaults targeting both civilians and vital infrastructure across the nation.
Authorities have specified a staggering bounty of two billion CFA francs (approximately 3.55 million US dollars) for information leading to the whereabouts of Iyad Ag Gali, the prominent leader of the “Nasra al-Islam wal-Muslimin” group. Lesser but still significant rewards have been established for several other high-value targets currently sought by security forces.
Among those on the extensive wanted list is El Ghabas Ag Antala, identified as a key figure within the Tuareg separatist movements operating in Mali’s northern regions.
This decisive measure follows a series of devastating attacks in April, claimed by groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda. These incursions, according to official reports, resulted in the tragic death of the Defense Minister and left other senior officials wounded. The violence ignited widespread clashes across vast, desert stretches of the country’s north, fueling concerns that armed factions could achieve further territorial gains and escalate instability within Sahel politics.
The decree, a critical step in Mali’s counter-terrorism strategy, was finalized in Bamako and bears the signature of Major General Daoud Ali Mohamedine, who serves as Mali’s Minister of Security and Civil Protection.
