Overview

Sidan Ag-Hitta is an internationally designated senior leader of Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), a U.S.-designated terrorist organization. JNIM, which was founded in March 2017, considers itself as al-Qaeda’s official branch in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. Hitta is reportedly the commander of Kidal Region in Mali and was a part of the group responsible for the January 2019 attack on a U.N. base in northern Mali which killed 10 U.N. peacekeepers.“Ten UN peacekeepers killed in a terrorist attack in northern Mali,” United Nations, January 20, 2019, https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/01/1030892; “Designations of ISIS-Mozambique, JNIM, and al-Shabaab Leaders,” U.S. Department of State, August 6, 2021, https://www.state.gov/designations-of-isis-mozambique-jnim-and-al-shabaab-leaders. Given Hitta’s activities, the U.S. Department of State designated Hitta as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) on August 6, 2021.“Designations of ISIS-Mozambique, JNIM, and al-Shabaab Leaders,” U.S. Department of State, August 6, 2021, https://www.state.gov/designations-of-isis-mozambique-jnim-and-al-shabaab-leaders. The European Union followed suit and added Hitta to the E.U. Council’s sanctions list on June 20, 2022.“COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2022/950 of 20 June 2022 amending Decision (CFSP) 2016/1693 concerning restrictive measures against ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them,” Journal of the European Union, June 20, 2022, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32022D0950.

According to media sources, Hitta was reportedly a soldier for the Malian armed forces before deserting the army to join insurgent groups.“Mali: Sidan Ag Hitta, terrorist leader, speaks in a message,” RFI, March 11, 2019, https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20190311-mali-sidan-ag-hitta-chef-terroriste-s-exprime-message. Based on information from the U.S. State Department, it is assumed Hitta first joined Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) before working his way through the ranks of JNIM. Hitta was linked to the abduction and murder of French reporters Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon in Kidal in November 2013. AQIM claimed responsibility for the attack. According to media sources, the journalists—who were covering the country’s legislative elections—were kidnapped and shot dead by armed men on November 2, 2013.“6 years on questions remain over murder of RFI journalists in Mali,” RFI, November 2, 2019, https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20191102-questions-remain-murder-dupont-verlon-mali-impunity-crimes-against-journalists.

Hitta kept a low profile until January 20, 2019, when Hitta and a group of JNIM gunmen ambushed peacekeepers from the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) in Aguelhok, northern Mali. The ambush killed 10 and injured 25 others.“Mali: 10 UN peacekeepers killed in attack on Aguelhok base,” January 20, 2019, https://www.thedefensepost.com/2019/01/20/mali-8-un-peacekeepers-killed-aguelhok; “Ten UN peacekeepers killed in a terrorist attack in northern Mali,” United Nations, January 20, 2019, https://news.un.org/en/story/2019/01/1030892. On March 11, 2019, JNIM released a message across social media networks where Hitta was heard confirming the death of Yahia Abou Hammam, a major AQIM leader. Hitta was then heard threatening a Malian diplomat based in southern Algeria who he claimed is working “for enemies” of the insurgent group.“Mali: Sidan Ag Hitta, terrorist leader, speaks in a message,” RFI, March 11, 2019, https://www.rfi.fr/fr/afrique/20190311-mali-sidan-ag-hitta-chef-terroriste-s-exprime-message.

Given Hitta’s role within JNIM, on August 21, 2019, the U.S. Department of State designated Hitta as an SDGT.“Designations of ISIS-Mozambique, JNIM, and al-Shabaab Leaders,” U.S. Department of State, August 6, 2021, https://www.state.gov/designations-of-isis-mozambique-jnim-and-al-shabaab-leaders. On June 20, 2022, the Council of the European Union added Hitta to the EU sanctions list for his role in terrorist attacks that targeted civilians and the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Mali.“COUNCIL DECISION (CFSP) 2022/950 of 20 June 2022 amending Decision (CFSP) 2016/1693 concerning restrictive measures against ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them,” Journal of the European Union, June 20, 2022, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32022D0950.