Could Islamist fighters take Timbuktu?

Mali's military junta is grappling with a significant security crisis as jihadist group JNIM and its Tuareg ally, the FLA, launch coordinated attacks on army positions in the north, threatening to seize control of Timbuktu. This surge in insurgency raises serious doubts about the government's capacity to maintain order and protect its citizens from extremist forces. The situation underscores the broader challenges of counterterrorism in the Sahel region, where instability and extremist violence continue to threaten regional security and stability.