Gunmen attacked three industrial sites and kidnapped civilians in western Mali over the weekend, local sources told AFP on Monday, in what appears to be part of a growing jihadist effort to disrupt the economy.
Fighters from the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an Al-Qaeda affiliate, have targeted industrial and mining sites in recent months and imposed a fuel blockade across the country.
A Malian security source described the damage from Sunday’s attacks in the Kayes region as “enormous,” adding that the government had sent reinforcements. Ibrahima Diawara, CEO of a plant producing calcium carbonate, lime, and plaster near Bafoulabe, said his site suffered “considerable damage,” while two other plants in the area were also attacked and set on fire.
Local reports indicate that nearly 160 armed assailants on motorbikes took part in the attacks. Three to four civilians were reportedly kidnapped, though no group has yet claimed responsibility.
JNIM has previously warned it would target industries and foreign companies working with the Malian state without its authorization. These attacks and kidnappings are reportedly used to fund their operations through ransom payments.
Since September, the group’s fuel blockade and attacks have severely disrupted the Malian economy, leading to shortages, power cuts, and widespread disruption in Bamako during October and November.

At least 2,000 people have been killed in Iran since protests erupted at the end of December, US-based activists reported on Tuesday.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency said 1,847 of the dead were protesters, 135 were government-affiliated, and nine children were among the casualties. Nine other civilians not participating in the protests were also killed.
An Iranian security official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, gave a similar figure, blaming “terrorists” for the deaths and including security personnel in the total.
The protests began on December 28, sparked by the collapse of Iran’s rial and soaring inflation. Authorities have imposed an internet blackout but allowed phone calls abroad for the first time in days on Tuesday

Finance ministers from the G7 and other major economies have met in Washington on ways to reduce dependence on rare earths from China, including setting a price floor and new partnerships to build up alternative supplies.
The meeting, convened by United States Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, included finance ministers from G7 members Japan, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and the U.S. as well as officials from Australia, Mexico, South Korea and India.
Meanwhile, Japanese Finance Minister, Satsuki Katayama told reporters that there was broad agreement on the need to swiftly reduce reliance on China for rare earths.