Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM) is a jihadist militant organization operating in the Maghreb and West Africa, formed in 2017 through the merger of several groups, including Ansar Dine, the Macina Liberation Front, al-Mourabitoun, and the Saharan branch of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. The group’s leaders pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda, and JNIM quickly became one of the fastest-growing terrorist organizations globally. The group has been responsible for numerous violent incidents across the Sahel region, targeting military forces, civilians, and rival groups. JNIM aims to expand its influence in West Africa by training militants and providing resources to local communities, while frequently attacking French, multinational, and local security forces. In recent years, JNIM has carried out some of its deadliest attacks, including the killing of over 100 soldiers in northern Burkina Faso in 2024 and a significant ambush on Russian paramilitaries and Malian soldiers, marking one of the worst losses for Russian forces in Africa.

Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin - Wikipedia