Mali offers $3.5M bounty for Al‑Qaeda Sahel leader Ag Ghali

The military government of Mali has offered a multi-million dollar reward for information leading to the capture or killing of Iyad Ag Ghali, the leader of the Sahel branch of al-Qaeda. The announcement was made on national television on Thursday by the country's security ministry.

Authorities are offering two billion CFA francs, equivalent to approximately $3.5 million, for information that results in the "capture or neutralisation" of Ag Ghali. A separate bounty of 1.5 billion CFA francs, or about $2.5 million, has been placed on one of his senior deputies, Amadou Koufa. Rewards were also announced for information on two Tuareg rebel leaders.

In a televised statement, officials said the individuals are actively sought for their alleged involvement in planning, organizing, and executing terrorist acts that have threatened national security. Citizens were urged to cooperate with security agencies by providing credible intelligence.

Iyad Ag Ghali leads Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), the largest jihadist force in the Sahel region. A former Malian diplomat and Tuareg rebel, he is listed as a terrorist by the United States and is the subject of an International Criminal...