Nema Nara Niono Nampla Lere Niafunke Timbuktu
 

Once did that route 3 years ago
Today my biggest concern would be the Toureg rebellion that s moved a bit south recently (Nampala ambush of Mil. Camp 2 weeks ago).
Apart this I would deem the route equally "dangerous/not dangerous" as the direct one Nema Timbuktu, which I have unfortunately never taken, but has been described well in this thread.
Rgds Manfred, in Bamako