Mali's Intelligence Services Under Fire After Jihadist Attacks

Libération sheds light on the intense pressure facing Mali's state security agency (ANSE) after the April 25 JNIM attacks. These assaults, which shook the regime, have placed the intelligence services squarely in the spotlight. An ANSE officer, speaking anonymously, reveals a troubling internal dynamic within the agency. He describes an institution increasingly preoccupied with safeguarding the ruling junta, a shift that appears to have come at the expense of effective counter-terrorism operations. The officer points to a disconnect, a "mal-insertion," between the agency and the very jihadist spheres it is supposed to be monitoring and combating. This internal focus on political security, rather than a comprehensive intelligence strategy against extremist groups, is seen as a critical failing. The article suggests that the agency's resources and attention are being diverted, potentially weakening its ability to anticipate and neutralize threats. This internal critique, coming from within the agency itself, underscores the deep challenges Mali faces in its fight against a persistent and evolving jihadist insurgency.

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Mise en cause après l’offensive du Jnim du 25 avril qui a ébranlé le régime, un officier de l’Agence nationale de la sécurité d’Etat raconte à «Libération» la dérive de l’institution, obsédée par la défense de la junte et mal insérée dans les sphères jihadistes.