Mali offers over $3.5 million for information on attackers who killed several government officials

DAKAR – The Malian government said on Thursday that it is offering financial rewards for information on the whereabouts of suspected militants linked to attacks targeting the country’s population and infrastructure.

The announcement follows al Qaeda-linked attacks in April that killed the defense minister and injured other officials. The assaults triggered renewed fighting across Mali’s vast desert north, raising concerns about potential territorial gains by armed groups.

Authorities said the government is offering 2 billion CFA francs (about $3.55 million) for information leading to the capture of Iyad Ag Ghaly, the leader of Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen, an al Qaeda-affiliated group operating in the region.

Smaller rewards were also announced for several other high-level suspects, including Alghabass Ag Intalla, a Tuareg separatist leader.

The order was signed in Bamako by Major General Daoud Aly Mohammedine, Mali’s minister of security and civil protection. -Reporting by Jessica Donati;Editing by Sanjeev Miglani/Reuters