[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv class=\u0022ds-1col clearfix\u0022\u003E\n\n  \n\n  \n  \u003Cp\u003EIn response to rumors that Mokhtar Belmokhtar\u2019s al-Mulathamun Brigade (AMB) had split with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM) in early 2013, analyst Aaron Zelin told Reuters that AQIM appeared to have initiated a \u201ccontrolled fragmentation.\u201d\u003Cspan class=\u0022footnote\u0022\u003EMyra MacDonald, \u201cBelmokhtar burnishes jihadi credentials with Algeria attack,\u201d Reuters, January 17, 2013, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/2013\/01\/17\/sahara-crisis-belmokhtar-idUSL6N0AMCX620130117\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/2013\/01\/17\/sahara-crisis-belmokhtar-idUSL6N0AMCX620130117\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E The August 2013 merger of the AMB with the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) to form al-Mourabitoun received widespread coverage because of Belmokhtar\u2019s infamy as an al-Qaeda commander and the AMB\/MUJAO joint attack on a French uranium mine earlier that year.\u003Cspan class=\u0022footnote\u0022\u003E\u201cBelmohktar\u2019s militants \u2018merge\u2019 with Mali\u2019s Mujao,\u201d BBC News, August 22, 2013, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-23796920\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-us-canada-23796920\u003C\/a\u003E; \u201cSahara jihadist groups merge, threaten French interests \u2013 report,\u201d Reuters, August 22, 2013, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/2013\/08\/22\/northafrica-islamists-idUSL6N0GN2OQ20130822\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/2013\/08\/22\/northafrica-islamists-idUSL6N0GN2OQ20130822\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E Since its emergence, al-Mourabitoun has specifically targeted French interests in the region, attracting the attention of Western media.\u003Cspan class=\u0022footnote\u0022\u003ERobbie Corey-Boulet, \u201cWebsite: Terror group threatens France over Mali,\u201d Associated Press, January 6, 2014, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/bigstory.ap.org\/article\/website-terror-group-threatens-france-over-mali\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/bigstory.ap.org\/article\/website-terror-group-threatens-france-over-mali\u003C\/a\u003E; Adama Diarra, \u201cFrench troops kill deputy to veteran Islamist Belmokhtar,\u201d Reuters, November 21, 2013, \u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/2013\/11\/21\/us-mali-france-islamists-idUSBRE9AK0Q520131121\u0022\u003Ehttp:\/\/www.reuters.com\/article\/2013\/11\/21\/us-mali-france-islamists-idUSBRE9AK0Q520131121\u003C\/a\u003E.\u003C\/span\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\n\u003C\/div\u003E\n\n","dialogOptions":{"minWidth":850,"resizable":true,"modal":true,"title":"Al-Mourabitoun\u2019s Emergence"}},{"command":"doFootnotes"}]