Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) issued a stark statement on November 20, 2025

Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) issued a stark statement on November 20, 2025, condemning what it described as massacres and serious human rights violations by the Malian junta. The announcement comes amid a sharp escalation in violence, reportedly exacerbated by Turkish drone strikes, which have significantly increased civilian casualties across regions including Timbuktu, Macina, and Aribinda.

According to JNIM, the Malian authorities are pursuing a scorched-earth strategy, deliberately targeting civilian populations to terrorize, displace, and force surrender. Recent attacks have reportedly destroyed homes and decimated entire families, with the elderly, women, and children disproportionately affected. The statement lists specific locations hit in recent days, including Markala in the south, the Intahaka mine, and several areas in Timbuktu such as Inghouzamane, Farach, Amman, Aratane, Tengata, Al-Bahaira, and Maajakouy.

JNIM claims that dozens of civilians have been killed, predominantly women and children, highlighting a pattern of indiscriminate targeting. The organization asserts it maintains comprehensive victim lists, including names, ages, photos, and community affiliations, and says it is ready to share this documentation with impartial entities to bolster accountability efforts.

The statement extends condolences to bereaved families, prayers for the martyrs, and wishes for the recovery of the wounded, emphasizing the moral weight of civilian suffering and framing these casualties as proof of the regime’s injustice.

JNIM urges human rights organizations, local and international media, and civil society to denounce these abuses and to hold the military and political leadership accountable. It criticizes the international community’s silence, arguing it indirectly enables continued violations against civilians.

The group also makes a direct appeal to the Malian population, including students, workers, and all societal sectors, to mobilize against the junta, boycott its actions, and participate in efforts to establish a “just Islamic government” grounded in Sharia law, promising security, justice, and the equitable return of national wealth. Foreign governments supplying military support to the junta-particularly Turkey, accused of providing drones-are explicitly warned. JNIM reiterates its principle: “We spare those who spare us, and we make peace with those who choose peace.”

The statement concludes with a commitment to ensure that the blood of the victims “will not be shed in vain”, signaling that these events will fuel continued resistance in Mali and across the Sahel, including Burkina Faso and Niger. It ends with a Quranic quote: “And those who have done evil will soon see what their recompense will be,” underscoring the group’s long-term resolve.

Meanwhile, the humanitarian impact continues to grow. In the Ivory Coast, nearly 80,000 Burkinabe and Malian refugees have now been officially recognized, reflecting the widespread displacement caused by the escalating conflict.