How jihadists in Mali exploit gold miners to fund attacks

The Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (Jnim) has intensified its grip on Mali’s burgeoning gold mining sector, transforming extraction sites into lucrative revenue streams to bankroll its insurgency across the Sahel. Reports from operational zones reveal a systematic campaign of extortion targeting foreign mining companies, particularly those from China, which dominate the country’s artisanal and industrial gold production.

Extortion as a financial lifeline for militant groups

Gold mining in Mali has become a critical economic driver, yet it has also emerged as a prime target for armed factions seeking to destabilize the region. Jnim operatives have established a sophisticated extortion network, demanding protection payments from mining operators in exchange for