Mali marked its 66th independence anniversary on Tuesday amid renewed security challenges from armed groups. Al-Qaeda-linked Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimeen (JNIM) and the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) have proven especially troublesome, with both groups increasing pressure on government forces and key supply routes. On September 10, JNIM attacked an army camp in central Mali. In April, JNIM collaborated with FLA on a series of attacks across the country, including the capital, Bamako. JNIM has also targeted fuel tankers and highways connecting Mali with Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, contributing to shortages in Bamako and disruptions to electricity and schooling. The developments underscore the difficulty Mali’s military authorities face in securing the country despite their longstanding pledge to restore national security.