Sahel Security: JNIM and the Tuareg FLA launched a major April offensive across Mali, including attacks reaching Bamako and the capture of Kidal, while Mali’s defense minister Gen. Sadio Camara was killed in a suicide bombing at his Kati residence—Mali and Russian-backed forces later said they repelled the assault, but the scale signals a dangerous shift toward the heart of the state. Insurgency Payoffs: JNIM’s “Bina Diarra” issued a public bounty plan offering €2m for information leading to transitional President Assimi Goïta and €1m each for senior commanders, pushing the conflict into a new, more targeted phase. West Africa Capital Markets: The BRVM’s CEO urged international investors to “come to Africa,” arguing fast-growing WAEMU economies and high market returns make the Abidjan-based exchange a financing engine for regional industry. Mali Media & Trade Links: Morocco’s Medi1TV won Mali’s HAC authorization to operate locally and broadcast regional programming, deepening cross-border media cooperation. Food & Heat Risk: Oxford research flags Bamako among cities most exposed to extreme heat as El Niño arrives, while climate-smart support (seed and water resilience) is expanding across the region to protect livelihoods and farming. Mali Mining Watch: GI-TOC warns illicit gold markets are outpacing regulation, with Mali named among key producers where criminal networks can fuel conflict and sanctions evasion.