Jacob Boswall
@jboswall.bsky.social
BBC journalist tracking jihadist groups worldwide // aspiring beekeeper
Still also at https://x.com/Boswall_Jacob
Still also at https://x.com/Boswall_Jacob
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
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
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
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
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
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...
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
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...
timbuktu-institute.org/index.php/to...