The al-Qaeda-linked JNIM (Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin) has officially announced the beginning of a 'total siege' on Mali's capital Bamako, reports Todayinfo.
The group warned civilians to 'stay out of the way' to avoid being targeted. This announcement could lead to a sharp escalation in the conflict between armed groups and the Malian army.
According to Al Jazeera's Nicolas Haque, an open confrontation between the army and militants now appears likely. Bamako is Mali's largest city and political center, drawing international attention to the situation.
