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
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
Meanwhile, IS's #Mozambique branch almost doubled activities compared to the previous quarter, whilst also widening attacks northwards and southwards, including into Nampula province, south of #CaboDelgado
October 14, 2025 at 10:39 AM
Meanwhile, IS's #Mozambique branch almost doubled activities compared to the previous quarter, whilst also widening attacks northwards and southwards, including into Nampula province, south of #CaboDelgado
In #DRC, ISCAP stepped up violence against Christian civilians in September, possibly exploiting ongoing instability as the #Rwanda-backed M23 rebels continued their insurgency
October 14, 2025 at 10:39 AM
In #DRC, ISCAP stepped up violence against Christian civilians in September, possibly exploiting ongoing instability as the #Rwanda-backed M23 rebels continued their insurgency
#Nigeria-focused ISWAP attacks dropped in Q3, as assaults on well-fortified military positions – a hallmark of its activity earlier this year – became highly infrequent.
ISWAP attacks this quarter are on a par with Central Africa branch (ISCAP) and Mozambique branch
ISWAP attacks this quarter are on a par with Central Africa branch (ISCAP) and Mozambique branch
October 14, 2025 at 10:39 AM
#Nigeria-focused ISWAP attacks dropped in Q3, as assaults on well-fortified military positions – a hallmark of its activity earlier this year – became highly infrequent.
ISWAP attacks this quarter are on a par with Central Africa branch (ISCAP) and Mozambique branch
ISWAP attacks this quarter are on a par with Central Africa branch (ISCAP) and Mozambique branch
IS Sahel claimed an especially large clash with #JNIM, allegedly killing 70 JNIM fighters. Alongside other reported clashes, this points to continuing tensions between the jihadist rivals, especially in northern Burkina Faso
October 14, 2025 at 10:39 AM
IS Sahel claimed an especially large clash with #JNIM, allegedly killing 70 JNIM fighters. Alongside other reported clashes, this points to continuing tensions between the jihadist rivals, especially in northern Burkina Faso
In the Sahel, AQ's JNIM re-focused its attacks on #Mali, with more incidents in the country in September than in #BurkinaFaso.
JNIM is increasingly focusing on commercial targets, announcing a blockade on the south-western Kayes town and international commercial routes in early September
JNIM is increasingly focusing on commercial targets, announcing a blockade on the south-western Kayes town and international commercial routes in early September
October 14, 2025 at 10:39 AM
In the Sahel, AQ's JNIM re-focused its attacks on #Mali, with more incidents in the country in September than in #BurkinaFaso.
JNIM is increasingly focusing on commercial targets, announcing a blockade on the south-western Kayes town and international commercial routes in early September
JNIM is increasingly focusing on commercial targets, announcing a blockade on the south-western Kayes town and international commercial routes in early September
There were continued high-casualty attacks by IS's #Somalia branch, featuring on Naba's front page of al-Naba six weeks in a row
IS propaganda framed the killing of a senior commander as a "major blow" to the efforts by #Puntland forces to clear the Al Miskad mountains of IS
IS propaganda framed the killing of a senior commander as a "major blow" to the efforts by #Puntland forces to clear the Al Miskad mountains of IS
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
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