Overview
- Ivory Coast’s National Security Council ordered the military to reinforce security along the northern frontier and instructed officials to register arriving asylum seekers.
- Ivorian authorities say the crossings follow recent assaults in southern Mali near the frontier, including an attack in Loulouni about 50 km from the border.
- In Mali, the al-Qaeda-linked group JNIM has targeted fuel convoys and sealed key highways from Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, creating a de facto fuel and economic blockade of Bamako.
- Conflict monitor ACLED reports at least 22 foreigners kidnapped in the past six months as JNIM intensifies abductions around western Mali’s industrial and gold-mining zones.
- AllAfrica reports that nearly €50 million was paid in late October to free high-profile hostages, with analysts citing a boost to JNIM from the payout and reported prisoner releases as the U.S. and U.K. reduce embassy staff.