Western Withdrawal, Jihadist Expansion: How the Sahel Became Ground Zero for Global Terrorism (warontherocks.com)

• Coordinated attacks on five Malian cities on April 25.
• Jihadist group and Tuareg separatists jointly conducted the assaults.
• Western withdrawal cited as key factor in security decline.

"On April 25, armed groups launched near-simultaneous attacks on military installations and strategic sites across Mali, from Bamako to Gao, Mopti, and Kidal. Claimed by Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin and coordinated with Tuareg separatists, these attacks reflect the culmination of deteriorating security following Western disengagement. The attacks targeted senior officials and key infrastructure, signaling a new phase in Sahelian instability."