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| Mali militants: who's who among Islamist rebels | Mali militants: who's who among Islamist rebels |
| (12 days later) | |
| Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the Algerian who is believed to be holding the western hostages snatched from a BP gas facility on Wednesday, is a veteran jihadist fighter who broke away from al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim) late last year. | Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the Algerian who is believed to be holding the western hostages snatched from a BP gas facility on Wednesday, is a veteran jihadist fighter who broke away from al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim) late last year. |
| Belmokhtar is also known as Khaled Abu al-Abbas and the "one eyed" – he reportedly lost an eye fighting in Afghanistan. Last month he formed a new group called al-Mulathamin (the Masked Ones) and is described as its "emir", or commander. French sources say he has been heavily involved smuggling diamonds and cigarettes – another nickname is "Mr Marlboro". The group has Algerian and Mauritanian fighters. The unit that attacked the BP camp is known in Arabic as "the signers in blood". Belmokhtar, who is in his forties, was a rival of Aqim's leader, Abdelmalek Droukdel. Said to be well-connected in Libya and Mauritania. | Belmokhtar is also known as Khaled Abu al-Abbas and the "one eyed" – he reportedly lost an eye fighting in Afghanistan. Last month he formed a new group called al-Mulathamin (the Masked Ones) and is described as its "emir", or commander. French sources say he has been heavily involved smuggling diamonds and cigarettes – another nickname is "Mr Marlboro". The group has Algerian and Mauritanian fighters. The unit that attacked the BP camp is known in Arabic as "the signers in blood". Belmokhtar, who is in his forties, was a rival of Aqim's leader, Abdelmalek Droukdel. Said to be well-connected in Libya and Mauritania. |
| Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb | Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb |
| The best known of the jihadist groups operating in Mali, Aqim was founded by Algerians from the GSPC (Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat) and is often described by western terrorism experts as a "franchise" of al-Qaida "central", akin to groups with both local and global agendas in Yemen and Somalia. | The best known of the jihadist groups operating in Mali, Aqim was founded by Algerians from the GSPC (Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat) and is often described by western terrorism experts as a "franchise" of al-Qaida "central", akin to groups with both local and global agendas in Yemen and Somalia. |
| It operates in Algeria, Mauritania, Niger and other "ungoverned spaces" of the Sahel region. Aqim's Saharan emir is an Algerian named Yahya Abou al-Hammam, who is second only to Aqim's overall leader, Abdelmalek Droukdel. | It operates in Algeria, Mauritania, Niger and other "ungoverned spaces" of the Sahel region. Aqim's Saharan emir is an Algerian named Yahya Abou al-Hammam, who is second only to Aqim's overall leader, Abdelmalek Droukdel. |
| US cables released by WikiLeaks described how the government in Bamako initially saw the GSPC as a purely Algerian problem, until it morphed into or merged with al-Qaida. Mali took it more seriously after the murder of French tourists in Mauritania in December 2007 and the kidnapping of Austrian hostages in Tunisia. Mali agreed to allow FBI officials to interview Aqim captives. Classed as a terrorist organisation by both the US and EU. | US cables released by WikiLeaks described how the government in Bamako initially saw the GSPC as a purely Algerian problem, until it morphed into or merged with al-Qaida. Mali took it more seriously after the murder of French tourists in Mauritania in December 2007 and the kidnapping of Austrian hostages in Tunisia. Mali agreed to allow FBI officials to interview Aqim captives. Classed as a terrorist organisation by both the US and EU. |
| Ansar Dine (Arabic for Defenders of the Faith) | Ansar Dine (Arabic for Defenders of the Faith) |
| Aims to impose a strict interpretation of sharia law throughout Mali. Its leader, Iyad Ag Ghali, is a Tuareg and former Malian diplomat who joined the fundamentalist rebels during a consular posting to Saudi Arabia. Its main support is from the Ifora tribe. Ag Ghali was previously associated with the 1990 Tuareg rebellion. Members are from Mali, Algeria, and Nigeria. Rumoured to have obtained new weapons from Libya after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi. Fighters even have anti-aircraft weapons that can be mounted on pickup trucks. | Aims to impose a strict interpretation of sharia law throughout Mali. Its leader, Iyad Ag Ghali, is a Tuareg and former Malian diplomat who joined the fundamentalist rebels during a consular posting to Saudi Arabia. Its main support is from the Ifora tribe. Ag Ghali was previously associated with the 1990 Tuareg rebellion. Members are from Mali, Algeria, and Nigeria. Rumoured to have obtained new weapons from Libya after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi. Fighters even have anti-aircraft weapons that can be mounted on pickup trucks. |
| Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa | Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa |
| Created as a largely Mauritanian offshoot of Aqim. Announced its first armed action in December 2011 with the goal of spreading jihad across west Africa, though its operations have been limited to southern Algeria and northern Mali. The group has been sanctioned by the UN security council, citing its alliance with Aqim in 2012. Emphasises its African identity. Led by Mauritanian Hamada Ould Mohammed Kheirou. Other key members are Algerian and Malian. Has brigades named after Osama bin Laden and other renowned jihadist fighters, as well as a "martyrdom-seekers" unit. | Created as a largely Mauritanian offshoot of Aqim. Announced its first armed action in December 2011 with the goal of spreading jihad across west Africa, though its operations have been limited to southern Algeria and northern Mali. The group has been sanctioned by the UN security council, citing its alliance with Aqim in 2012. Emphasises its African identity. Led by Mauritanian Hamada Ould Mohammed Kheirou. Other key members are Algerian and Malian. Has brigades named after Osama bin Laden and other renowned jihadist fighters, as well as a "martyrdom-seekers" unit. |
| Ansar al-Sharia (Defenders of Sharia) | Ansar al-Sharia (Defenders of Sharia) |
| Formed last month in Gao, northern Mali's largest town, in collaboration with the Salafi group of the same name in Libya held responsible for the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi. Mauritanian media reported that leaders of the new group are from the al-Barabiche tribe from the Timbuktu region, with some related by marriage to al-Qaida fighters. Has branches in Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen. | Formed last month in Gao, northern Mali's largest town, in collaboration with the Salafi group of the same name in Libya held responsible for the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi. Mauritanian media reported that leaders of the new group are from the al-Barabiche tribe from the Timbuktu region, with some related by marriage to al-Qaida fighters. Has branches in Morocco, Tunisia and Yemen. |
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