Dressed in a light blue robe and a black turban, iad aghali It could be seen at the beginning of the year surrounded by various leaders from the eastern region. Financialborder with Niger. It is one of the leader’s last public appearances. JNIM (Islam and Muslims Support Front)a terrorist and criminal organization operating in the region beach And Gulf of Guinea under the flag al-Qaeda. With this image broadcast by a propaganda channel of the organization, they tried to show that they had the support of various Tuareg groups in the Ménaka region.
Iyad Ag Ghali is one of the terrorists most wanted in the world and French newspaper World sees it as France’s number one enemy in the Sahel. leading organization born in 2017 and is a summary alliances of various Salafist groups operating in the region for years (Ansar Dine, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in the Sahel, ‘katiba’ Macina and ‘katiba’ Al Murabitun). This organization was able to control a significant part of northern Mali, vast desert areas with scattered populations beyond the control of the Bamako authorities.
JNIM and especially its leader They know how to play with the complex alliances and tribal and ethnic conflicts that exist in the region. In order to gain more followers and land. They also try to present themselves as guarantors of security and resources in the absence of the State. This terrorist group was behind an attack at Sevare airport last April. As a result of the explosion of many vehicles, 10 civilians lost their lives. full of explosives. That same month, they also attacked a Mali Army convoy in the central part of the country, killing 10 soldiers.
Behind these attacks under the so-called jihad flag, this terrorist organization is trying to control the lands in order to consolidate the criminal activities that it enriches its treasury: drug trafficking and kidnapping. According to Sahel expert Bea Mesa, the actions of these groups are motivated by money raised from these illegal activities.
Extension of JNIM
long and porous borders between Financial, Niger And Burkina Faso They also made it easier for this criminal organization to extend their networks further, and one of the goals they are pursuing is to extend their influence to the Gulf of Guinea countries. Beninin recent years they have already organized attacks and attacks.
“The expansion of the regional branches of Islamic State and Al Qaeda in West Africa into the Gulf of Guinea is another example of how instability and insecurity spread across borders as terrorist groups settle in some countries and others. bridges making it possible to connect the main activity centers”, according to the latest annual International Observatory for Research terrorism.
Dispute with the Islamic State
Led by Iyad Ag Ghali, the faction has faced competition from those with a distinctive style for years. Islamic State of Greater Sahara (EIGS)). This Middle East-born subsidiary of the organization is the other major threat plaguing the region. They started operating in this area in 2015, but the first related attack took place two years later when they were killed in Niger. five local and four American soldiers. This terrorist organization is gaining strength in the region and is attacking more and more countries.
An expansion causing friction with other major criminal and terrorist group. In recent months, JNIM and EIGS have had non-aggression agreements between them at certain times. At times they were involved in major conflicts that resulted in the loss of dozens of lives.. This increase in violence between them is in response to the growing Islamic State-linked presence in areas formerly controlled by JNIM.
This last recorded matches took place in Mali and Burkina Faso last April. According to the International Observatory for Terrorism Studies, as many as 20 terrorists died in one of these clashes, and the trigger, according to available information, was EIGS’ attempt to exert control over two Burkinabe towns.