The Sahelian juntas have signed a military alliance as jihadist and separatist groups step up their attacks, As Mali s military regime pursues its drive to reassert central government authority over the Kidal region hitherto dominated by Tuareg former separatists, conflict has spread across the north, with jihadists seizing the opportunity to step up their own attacks west of Timbuktu (AC Vol 64 No 18, As Bamako pushes out the UN, Islamists seize new opportunities).