The U.S. State Department on Wednesday designated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) in Mali as a foreign terrorist organization. 

In a statement, it said the group has described itself as al-Qaeda’s official branch in the West African nation and has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks and kidnappings since it was formed in March 2017.

The designation seeks to deny JNIM the resources to plan and carry out terrorist attacks.

"Among other consequences, all of JNIM’s property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked," said the statement. 

The designation also denies the group access to the U.S. financial system, it added.