Mali attacks spotlight the growing reach of militants across West Africa | WTVB | 1590 AM · 95.5 FM

By David Lewis, Mariano Zafra and Maxwell Akalaare Adombila

May 1 (Reuters) – Simultaneous attacks in ​Mali by militants linked ‌to al Qaeda and separatist Tuareg rebels on April 25 showed how fighters from different groups with different ‌goals ​were able to ⁠strike at the ⁠heart of the West African country’s military government.

Despite a series of interventions since 2013 by ​French, U.S., UN and Russian troops, these militant groups, ⁠alongside other factions ⁠aligned with Islamic State, ​have also made significant gains elsewhere ​in the region.

The groups have ‌expanded their presence in Niger and Burkina Faso and have linked up with Islamist militants ⁠in northern Nigeria. Their reach now stretches over 3,000 km (1,900 miles) from western ⁠Mali ‌near Senegal, through Nigeria ⁠and into Chad.

Click here ​for ‌a story about the ​presence of ⁠militant groups across West Africa, including their proximity to major mining operations, presented as a graphic:

(Editing by David Clarke and ​Jon McClure)