Iyad Ag Ghaly: The Sahel’s most wanted figure

In a televised statement, Malian officials confirmed the two billion CFA franc reward—equivalent to roughly three million euros—for any verifiable intelligence on Iyad Ag Ghaly’s whereabouts. Once a Tuareg rebel leader, he now heads the JNIM, a jihadist group responsible for escalating violence across the Sahel over the past decade. Ag Ghaly is subject to United Nations sanctions, sought by the United States, and has an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Six other armed group leaders targeted

Bamako has also put a price on the heads of six additional commanders, including Amadou Kouffa, a key JNIM figure, and Alghabass Ag Intalla and Bilal Ag Cherif, leaders of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA). Authorities allege these individuals orchestrated and carried out deadly attacks against state targets.

A response to rising insecurity

This announcement follows coordinated JNIM-FLA offensives in late April that struck multiple military positions, marking a significant shift in the conflict. Among the casualties was Defense Minister Sadio Camara, a central figure in the military regime.