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Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin

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Not to be confused with Jama'atu Nasril Islam.
Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin
Groupe de soutien à l'islam et aux musulmans
LeadersIyad Ag Ghaly
Dates of operation2 March 2017 – present
Merger of
Allegiance Al-Qaeda
Afghanistan Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan[1]
HeadquartersTinzaouaten[2]
Active regions Mali
 Algeria
 Niger
 Libya
 Mauritania
 Tunisia
 Chad
 Burkina Faso
Ideology
see list
Size2,000–3,000 (2022 estimate)
5,000–6,000 (2024 estimate)[3]
Part of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
Allies Ansar ul Islam[4]
al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb[5]
Opponents
State Opponents
Non-State Opponents
Battles and warsthe Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002-present) and the Northern Mali conflict
Designated as a terrorist group by
see list
  Territories under control of JNIM

Jama'at Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (Arabic: جماعة نصرة الإسلام والمسلمين, JNIM; French: Groupe de soutien à l'islam et aux musulmans, GSIM;[7] lit. 'Support Group for Islam and Muslims') is a Salafi Jihadist[8][9][10] organisation in the Maghreb and West Africa formed by the merger of Ansar Dine, the Macina Liberation Front, al-Mourabitoun and the Saharan branch of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.[11] Its leaders swore allegiance to Ayman al-Zawahiri.[12]

In 2022, The Economist noted that JNIM was the fastest-growing terrorist group globally at the moment.[13]

History

[edit]

JNIM is a coalition of Salafi Jihadist[8][9][10] organisations in West Africa formed by the merger of Ansar Dine, the Macina Liberation Front, al-Mourabitoun and the Saharan branch of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (former Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat).[11]

On 2 March 2017, Iyad Ag Ghaly, Al Murabitoun's deputy leader, Hassan Al Ansari, Yahya Abu Hammam, Amadou Kouffa, and Abu Abderaham al-Sanhaji appeared in a video declaring the creation of Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, and their allegiance to al-Qaeda Emir Ayman al-Zawahiri, AQIM's Emir, Abdelmalek Droukdel, and Taliban Emir, Hibatullah Akhundzada.[9][10]

Genealogy of JNIM, showing its roots in Katiba Macina, Al-Mourabitoun, Ansar Dine and Ansarul Islam

They also praised killed al-Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.[14][15] On 16 March, Abdelmalek Droukdel released an audio message, approving the union between the groups.[16] On 19 March, Al-Qaeda issued a statement approving the new group and accepting their oath of allegiance.[17]

Two leaders sanctioned by the US Treasury's office were named as Ali Maychou and Bah Ag Moussa. Moussa was a former Malian army colonel who led an operation in March 2019 against the Malian Armed Forces base in Dioura that killed at least 21 Malian soldiers. Maychou was a native of Morocco who had claimed responsibility for a JNIM attack on a military camp that housed Malian troops in Gao, killing dozens. The Treasury office said Maychou held an operational role in JNIM's activities, while Moussa acted on behalf of JNIM's leader Iyad Ag Ghaly.[18] In 2021, two additional leaders were designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists: Sidan Ag Hitta and Salem ould Breihmatt.[19]

The French government declared that 50 jihadists linked to the al-Qaeda group were killed in central Mali during an operation launched by the French anti-jihadist Barkhane force on 30 October 2020. The French force also confiscated arms and material and captured four of the jihadists live, as per French Defense Minister Florence Parly.[20] The French authorities also confirmed the death of a key JNIM leader Bah ag Moussa with four of his group. He was in charge of terrorist operations and training new extremist recruits.[21] France has deployed more than 5,000 troops in the Sahel region to combat insurgents.

On 29 March 2021, a force of about 100 members raided a camp of UN Peacekeepers in Northern Mali, approximately 200 kilometres (120 mi) from the Algerian border. Four of the Chadian Peacekeepers were killed in the assault, and 34 wounded. Initial reports suggested that approximately 20 of the jihadists had been killed, a number that was later revised to 40, including Abdallaye Ag Albaka. Ag Albaka was described as "a right-hand man to Iyad Ag Ghaly", and unofficially as the Number 3 man in the organization.[22]

Activity

[edit]

From 2017 to 2023, JNIM was responsible for more than half of violent events across the Sahel region, notably due to increased capabilities in using roadside bombs, mortars, landmines and rockets. It had its most violent interactions with Burkina Faso's military (1,762 times) and the Malian army (945 times). It also targets volunteer fighting groups as well as communities it considers sympathetic to the state.

On 26 April 2021, David Beriáin, Roberto Fraile and Rory Young were killed following an ambush by the JNIM on their convoy in eastern Burkina Faso, near the Benin border.[23]

On 5 September 2023, at least 50 Burkina Faso soldiers were killed in clashes in Yatenga Province.[24]

On 7 September 2023, at least 154 civilians and fifteen Malian soldiers were killed when JNIM militants simultaneously attacked a Malian military camp at Bamba and the civilian boat Tombouctou on the Niger River near the village of Banikane, Gourma-Rharous..[25]

On 26 November 2023, JNIM militants launched a major assault on the city of Djibo in Burkina Faso, resulting in at least 40 civilian deaths.[26] The siege of Djibo began in February 2022.

Islamic State in the Greater Sahara serves as an opponent to JNIM and while it does not have the same strength and capabilities of JNIM, it is similar to JNIM and the strategy it uses. Ghaly has stated that JNIM's strategy is to expand its presence across West Africa and train militants to fight against the group's enemies while appeasing local communities by giving them material resources and signing local agreements. JNIM regularly attacks French, multinational, and local security forces in West Africa, as well as local and foreign civilians in the region.[27]

In June 2024, JNIM fighters claimed to have killed more than 100 soldiers at an army base in the northern region of Mansila near Niger. Security analysts said it was one of the deadliest attacks on government forces ever in the region. JNIM also claimed to have captured seven soldiers and seized weapons and ammunition.[28]

JNIM claimed in July 2024 a "complex ambush" had wiped out a convoy during the Battle of Tinzaouaten, killing 50 Russians and a number of Malian soldiers, and published videos showing several vehicles ablaze as well as dozens of bodies in the area. A Tuareg militant group spokesman said some Malian troops and Russian fighters had also been captured during the battle. According to some unofficial Russian Telegram channels, as many as 80 Russians were killed. That would make it by far the worst loss for Russian paramilitaries in several years of operating in Africa, as the Kremlin has sought to use proxy forces to challenge Western influence across the Sahel and central Africa and prop up unstable regimes.[29]

On 25 August 2024, JNIM launched a major attack on people given the responsibility of digging trenches for the protection of security outposts in the region of Barsalogho, Burkina Faso, killing at least 400 soldiers and civilians.[30]

JNIM attacked a military training camp near the airport in Mali's capital in September 2024 as explosions were heard in the area. Within hours, the government announced it was temporarily closing the airport in Bamako. The whole attack lasted for 9 hours and 100+ were killed and wounded. At least 15 people were arrested in connection with the attack. JNIM took responsibility through their media.[31][32]

Aims and support

[edit]

The Center for Strategic and International Studies describes JNIM as "an al Qaeda-affiliated Salafi-jihadist insurgent organization that seeks to replace established state authority with a conservative interpretation of Islamic law."[5]

In 2022, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies said that JNIM does not have wide popular support.[33]

In January 2024, it was reported that some clans from northern Mali had sworn allegiance to JNIM.[34]

Economist Intelligence Units reported in 2024 that "The local populations support (JNIM) more than IS-affiliated groups. JNIM has integrated into local rebel groups, which have close community ties while IS-affiliated groups are more foreign to the region."[35]

JNIM has formed alliances with local communities and the Tuareg or other ethnic factions.[36]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "JNIM as a foreign terrorist organization".
  2. ^ Pellerin, Mathieu (November 2019). "Armed violence in the Sahara" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2020-05-23. Retrieved 2020-06-07.
  3. ^ "S/2024/556". United Nations. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  4. ^ "Un nouveau mouvement djihadiste est né au Burkina Faso". Archived from the original on 14 March 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Examining Extremism: Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin". Archived from the original on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  6. ^ "Iraqi, international co-operation to end terror financing". Archived from the original on 2021-06-20. Retrieved 2020-08-04.
  7. ^ Buchanan, Elsa (3 April 2017). "Mali: Terror threat spreads after Sahel groups join forces to create new jihadist alliance". Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 2 June 2017.
  8. ^ a b Nsaibia, Héni (2023-11-13). "Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM)". ACLED. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  9. ^ a b c "Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin". Australian National Security.
  10. ^ a b c Hess, Ryan CK (24 November 2020). "Lassoing the Haboob". www.airuniversity.af.edu. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  11. ^ a b "Al-Qaeda now has a united front in Africa's troubled Sahel region". Newsweek. 3 March 2017. Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  12. ^ "Three Islamic extremist groups of Mali merge, pledge to al-Qaida". Business Standard India. Associated Press. 3 March 2017. Archived from the original on 28 March 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017 – via Business Standard.
  13. ^ "The world's centre of terrorism has shifted to the Sahel". The Economist. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  14. ^ "Al Qaeda branch rallies jihadists to join forces after Mali merger". Reuters. 20 March 2017. Archived from the original on 28 March 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  15. ^ "Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin / Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM) – AQIM, Ansar Dine, Macina Liberation Front & Mourabitounes Coalition – Terrorist Groups – TRAC". Archived from the original on 28 March 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  16. ^ @Rita_Katz (20 March 2017). "2) Message comes 2days after #AQIM..." (Tweet). Retrieved 12 April 2017 – via Twitter.
  17. ^ @Terror_Monitor (19 March 2017). "#AlQaeda Central Welcomes Merger Of..." (Tweet). Retrieved 12 April 2017 – via Twitter.
  18. ^ "Two leaders of Mali al-Qaeda affiliate put on US terrorism list after attacks". Al Arabiya. July 16, 2019. Archived from the original on July 21, 2019. Retrieved June 7, 2020.
  19. ^ 86 FR 44465
  20. ^ "French airstrikes kill over 50 people in Mali". DW.com. 3 November 2020. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  21. ^ "French military kills Al Qaeda-linked commander Bah ag Moussa, four others in Mali". FirstPost / AP news agency. 14 November 2020. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  22. ^ "Several Dozen Jihadists, Including Commander, Killed in Mali: UN". The Defense Post. 6 April 2021. Archived from the original on 10 July 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  23. ^ "Spanish reporters, Irish campaigner killed in Burkina Faso ambush". Al Jazeera. 27 April 2021. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
  24. ^ "More than 50 security forces killed by jihadis in Burkina Faso, as violence inches closer to capital". ABC News. September 5, 2023. Retrieved 2023-09-10.
  25. ^ "Mali : Les groupes islamistes armés et l'armée prennent les civils pour cible" (in French). Human Rights Watch. 2023-11-01. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023. Retrieved 2024-01-01.
  26. ^ "Dozens killed in attack by armed groups in Burkina Faso, UN says". France 24. 2023-11-28. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  27. ^ "National Counterterrorism Center | FTOs". www.dni.gov. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  28. ^ Lawal, Shola. "Nearly 200 people dead: What's behind armed attacks in Burkina Faso?". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-09-01.
  29. ^ Darya Tarasova; Tim Lister; Avery Schmitz (2024-07-29). "Dozens of Russian mercenaries killed in rebel ambush in Mali, in their worst known loss in Africa". CNN. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
  30. ^ Christensen, Sofia (27 August 2024). "Suspected jihadists kill hundreds in Burkina Faso attack". Reuters. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  31. ^ "Al Qaeda-linked group claims attack on military police base in Mali's capital". France 24. 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  32. ^ "Mali attack: Al-Qaeda-linked JNIM says it was behind morning assault". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-09-18.
  33. ^ "The Puzzle of JNIM and Militant Islamist Groups in the Sahel". Archived from the original on 2022-01-25. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  34. ^ "Northern Mali clans swear allegiance to JNIM". FDD's Long War Journal. January 23, 2023.
  35. ^ "Attacks by Islamic extremists are rampant in Africa's Sahel. Here's what we know about them". AP News. 2024-09-22. Retrieved 2024-09-22.
  36. ^ "Analysis: Setting the stage for Mali's near future". FDD's Long War Journal. September 11, 2023.
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