Mali's top Imam urges regional fix for Sahel jihadist crisis

Mali’s influential Imam Mahmoud Dicko last month called for coordinated regional actions to end al-Qaeda violence raging across the Sahel region in Africa.

Dicko emphasized the need for collaborative action across borders rather than isolated national efforts.

"We must find a solution for the entire sub-region. We therefore favor finding solutions in each country, to create a dynamic enabling us to emerge from this situation," Dicko told AFP on the sidelines of the sixth African Conference for the Promotion of Peace in Nouakchott, Mauritania.

Dicko, the former president of Mali's High Islamic Council, remains one of the most respected and influential religious figures in the country.

Widely regarded as one of the country's most important figures, he has long wielded significant moral and political authority.

His past roles mediating in conflicts and leading opposition movements, though he now operates from exile in Algeria.

The Sahel region, encompassing Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and neighboring areas, has been a hotspot for terrorist group insurgency since the early 2010s.

Groups affiliated with al-Qaeda, such as Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), and others have exploited the porous borders in recent years.

Years of attacks wreaked havoc in the region

Over the past years, these terrorist groups have launched relentless attacks, displacing millions, killing thousands and seizing control of vast rural territories.

Dicko's appeal for a sub-regional dynamic underscore the interconnected nature of the threat.

He advocates building momentum through country specific initiatives that feed into broader cooperation, involving dialogue and coordinated security measures.

Dicko’s stature as a prominent Islamic leader lends weight to the idea that religious figures could play a key role in fostering reconciliation.

Military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have prioritized hardline counter-terrorism, with mixed results and at the cost of civilian protections and international partnerships.

Recent escalations, including high-profile attacks deep into urban areas, demonstrate the limits of force alone.

Dicko's proposal revives discussions around inclusive strategies that combine local peacebuilding with regional frameworks.

While challenges remain, jihadist groups' ideological rigidity, mutual distrust among states and political instability.

Dicko's intervention signals growing recognition that ending the Sahel's violence requires unity beyond national silos.

His voice, rooted in religious credibility and regional insight, may help catalyze the collective resolve needed to break the cycle of instability.