A nation unravels: Is al-Qaida about to get its very own country? Explained

Mali is on the brink of falling under the control of al-Qaida’s regional affiliate, JNIM, marking a significant shift in West African power dynamics. The group has implemented a sophisticated strategy, effectively strangling the state and establishing a shadow administration. This unfolding crisis threatens to create a vast arc of jihadist influence across the Sahel, with profound global implications.