Iyad Ag Ghaly: the Sahel’s most wanted fugitive

In a televised address, Malian authorities detailed the unprecedented bounty, emphasizing that it applies to any verified tip-off about the whereabouts or activities of Iyad Ag Ghaly. Once a prominent Tuareg rebel commander, he now heads JNIM, a militant organization widely held responsible for fueling the decade-long jihadist insurgency gripping the Sahel. Ag Ghaly is currently subject to United Nations sanctions, faces a US bounty, and holds an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Six other key figures named in bounty program

Beyond Ag Ghaly, Malian authorities have also placed a price on the heads of six additional armed group leaders. Among them are Amadou Kouffa, a senior JNIM figure, and the heads of the Front de Libération de l’Azawad (FLA), Alghabass Ag Intalla and Bilal Ag Cherif. Authorities allege these individuals orchestrated and executed multiple attacks targeting state institutions.

Bounty announced amid rising insurgent attacks

The announcement comes shortly after a series of coordinated assaults in late April by JNIM and its FLA allies on critical military positions. These operations marked a critical escalation in the conflict and resulted in the death of Defense Minister Sadio Camara, a central figure in the military-led government.