Mali, Senegal Launch Joint Patrols To Combat Jihadist Threat

Malian and Senegalese defence forces have launched joint patrols along their shared border to counter rising insecurity driven by jihadist attacks.

The initiative, officially launched on February 20, 2025, in the border town of Diboli, follows a surge in violence attributed to the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda-affiliated group.

The situation became more serious after the recent kidnapping and killing of a well-known Senegalese religious leader, an act claimed by JNIM’s second-in-command, Amadou Kouffa.

According to a report from Malijet, Senegal has deployed Military Zone No. 4 and the Rapid Action Group for Surveillance and Intervention (GARSI). At the same time, Malian armed forces and internal security services are also engaged. The joint patrols focus on securing strategic routes and protecting local populations.

Former Malian Prime Minister Moussa Mara praised the initiative, calling it a necessary step for West African security.

I strongly welcome this idea which illustrates what we must do in West Africa in the face of insecurity and terrorism. As much as criminals play on our borders, our States must have the flexibility of mind to join hands to cooperate in all our border areas, Malijet quoted him.

The joint operation is part of diplomatic efforts between the two nations despite Mali’s recent withdrawal from ECOWAS.

During a visit to Bamako, Senegalese Defense Minister Birame Diop reaffirmed Senegal’s commitment to working with Mali against terrorism and cross-border crime. Both governments aim to establish a permanent surveillance mechanism along their nearly 700-kilometer border.

This initiative follows previous regional cooperation efforts, including a September 2024 joint operation between Mali, Senegal, and Mauritania. Mali and Senegal have already established military ties through an agreement signed in March 2021, enabling joint border patrols and military training exchanges.

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