The administration of United States President Donald Trump is considering military action against an al-Qaeda-linked militant group in Mali, a move that could expand Washington’s counterterrorism operations to an eighth country since the president returned to office.
According to current and former US officials familiar with internal deliberations, the proposed operation would target Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate that has intensified attacks across Mali and the wider Sahel region.
The officials said the proposal remains under review and no final decision has been made on whether to authorise military strikes.
The discussions come despite Trump’s repeated pledges to reduce US involvement in overseas conflicts and prioritise domestic issues during his second term.
If approved, Mali would become the eighth country where Trump has ordered military strikes since returning to the White House.
However, the proposal has exposed divisions within the administration, with senior officials reportedly split over whether military action is the best course of action.
Officials familiar with the deliberations said National Security Council Senior Director for Counterterrorism Sebastian Gorka is among the strongest advocates for using force against JNIM.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss military planning publicly, said others within the administration have expressed reservations about expanding US military operations in West Africa.
The debate reflects broader questions within the Trump administration over how aggressively the United States should respond to growing extremist threats in the Sahel while balancing the president’s commitment to limiting America’s overseas military engagements.
No timeline has been announced for a final decision, and the White House has not publicly commented on the reported deliberations.
Erizia Rubyjeana
