Executive Summary:

Al-Mourabitoun (“The Sentinels”) is a violent, jihadist terrorist group in West Africa that aims to implement sharia (Islamic law). The group was formed from a 2013 merger between al-Mulathamun (“The Masked Men”) Battalion (AMB) and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO).“Terrorist Designation of the Al-Mulathamun Battalion,” U.S. Department of State, December 18, 2013, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/218880.htm. Both groups were offshoots of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).“Al-Murabitun,” Australian National Security, accessed June 17, 2015, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/Al-Murabitun.aspx. In December 2015, al-Mourabitoun merged with AQIMAssociated Press, “Mali: Group Merges With Al Qaeda,” New York Times, December 4, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/05/world/africa/mali-group-merges-with-al-qaeda.html. after a joint attack on the Radisson Blu hotel in Bamako, the Malian capital. This attack signaled a declaration of unity between both groups. Al-Mourabitoun has since taken the lead in AQIM operations, including a high-profile attack on a U.N. base in northern Mali.Conor Gaffey, “Peacekeeping in Mali: The U.N.’s Most Dangerous Mission,” Newsweek, June 12, 2016, http://www.newsweek.com/mali-un-mission-northern-mali-conflict-aqim-africa-peacekeeping-468907.

According to the United Nations, al-Mourabitoun established ties with local Libyan tribes and marginalized groups in early 2017 in order to expand its operations into Libya.“Challenges in Countering Terrorism in Libya,” Joint open briefing of the Counter Terrorism Committee, the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, and the Libya Sanctions Committee, June 22, 2017, https://www.un.org/sc/ctc/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Concept-Note-Joint-open-briefing-on-Libya-22-Jun-17.pdf. On March 2, 2017, al-Mourabitoun merged with AQIM and the local Jihadist groups Ansar al-Dine and the Macina Liberation Front to form Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM).Thomas Joscelyn, “Analysis: Al Qaeda groups reorganize in West Africa,” Long War Journal, March 13, 2017, https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/03/analysis-al-qaeda-groups-reorganize-in-west-africa.php. The formation of JNIM represents al-Qaeda’s new emphasis on “unity” in order to strengthen jihadist groups and successfully implement sharia law in the Maghreb region.Thomas Joscelyn, “Analysis: Al Qaeda groups reorganize in West Africa,” Long War Journal, March 13, 2017, https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/03/analysis-al-qaeda-groups-reorganize-in-west-africa.php.

Mokhtar Belmokhtar had previously split his AMB from AQIM in 2012.“Country Reports on Terrorism 2013: Chapter 6: Foreign Terrorist Organizations,” U.S. Department of State, April 2014, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/225886.pdf. AMB orchestrated a January 2013 attack on a gas facility near In Amenas, Algeria, that left 38 civilians dead.“Terrorist Designation of the Al-Mulathamun Battalion,” U.S. Department of State, December 18, 2013, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/218880.htm. In May 2013, AMB and MUJAO carried out twin suicide bombings in Niger that killed at least 20 people.“Terrorist Designation of the Al-Mulathamun Battalion,” U.S. Department of State, December 18, 2013, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2013/218880.htm.

After AMB’s August 2013 merger with the Mali-based MUJAO to form al-Mourabitoun, the newly formed group claimed that the region’s jihadist movement was “stronger than ever.”“Belmohktar’s militants ‘merge’ with Mali’s Mujao,” BBC News, August 22, 2013, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-23796920. Al-Mourabitoun announced its intentions to “rout” France and its allies in the region.“Belmohktar’s militants ‘merge’ with Mali’s Mujao,” BBC News, August 22, 2013, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-23796920. The group carried out attacks against French interests in the region, African military units coordinating against Islamist forces, and African civilians.

Belmoktar has been falsely declared dead on numerous occasions. In 2013, the government of Chad announced Belmoktar had been killed in an antiterrorism operation in Mali. In early October 2015, an Algerian news channel reported that Belmoktar’s death had been announced by an al-Qaeda spokesman in a recorded audio message. A U.S. airstrike in Libya was reported to have killed Belmokhtar on June 14, 2015, although the United States has not confirmed his death.Reuters, “Libya Says 'Uncatchable' Veteran Militant Killed in U.S. Strike,” New York Times, June 15, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2015/06/15/world/africa/15reuters-usa-libya.html. Al-Mourabitoun later denied Belmokhtar had been killed and declared him its official leader in July 2015.Thomas Joscelyn, “Mokhtar Belmokhtar now leads ‘Al Qaeda in West Africa,” Long War Journal, August 13, 2015, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/08/mokhtar-belmokhtar-now-leads-al-qaeda-in-west-africa.php.

Doctrine:

Al-Mourabitoun believes it has a “Shari’a-based duty” to unite Africa’s Muslims and Islamic movements against secular and non-Muslim influences, according to the Australian government.“Al-Murabitun,” Australian National Security, accessed June 17, 2015, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/Al-Murabitun.aspx. In particular, the group targets France and French interests in the region.“Al-Murabitun,” Australian National Security, accessed June 17, 2015, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/Al-Murabitun.aspx. The group’s stated goal is to “rout” France and its regional allies.“Belmohktar’s militants ‘merge’ with Mali’s Mujao,” BBC News, August 22, 2013, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-23796920. To that end, al-Mourabitoun has accused France of killing “peaceful children, women and old men” during its 2013 intervention in Mali.Robbie Corey-Boulet, “Website: Terror group threatens France over Mali,” Associated Press, January 6, 2014, http://bigstory.ap.org/article/website-terror-group-threatens-france-over-mali.

Both MUJAO and al-Mourabitoun originated as splinter groups of al-Qaeda’s affiliate in the region, AQIM.“Al-Murabitun,” Australian National Security, accessed June 17, 2015, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/Al-Murabitun.aspx. MUJAO’s stated goal was to spread jihad across West Africa.“Al-Murabitun,” Australian National Security, accessed June 17, 2015, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/Al-Murabitun.aspx. According to the Australian government, MUJAO objected to Algerian dominance of AQIM’s leadership.“Al-Murabitun,” Australian National Security, accessed June 17, 2015, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/Al-Murabitun.aspx. Al-Mourabitoun initially allied itself with al-Qaeda while remaining operationally independent.Dario Cristiani, “Ten Years of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb: Evolution and Prospects,” Jamestown Foundation, May 5, 2017, https://jamestown.org/program/ten-years-al-qaeda-islamic-maghreb-evolution-prospects/. While co-founder Adnan al-Sahrawi declared the group’s allegiance to ISIS in May 2015, co-founder Mokhtar Belmokhtar rejected the pledge and stated that the group’s shura (advisory) council had not yet ruled on an ISIS alliance.Agence France-Presse, “Belmokhtar's jihadist group in N.Africa vows allegiance to IS,” Yahoo News, May 14, 2015, http://news.yahoo.com/al-qaeda-linked-belmokhtar-group-n-africa-claims-001449854.html; Reuters, “Sahara Islamist Leader Belmokhtar Dismisses Islamic State Pledge: Report,” New York Times, May 17, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2015/05/17/world/africa/17reuters-sahara-militants.html. Al-Mourabitoun officially realigned itself with al-Qaeda in 2015, and renamed itself “Al Murabitoon – Al Qaeda in West Africa.”Thomas Joscelyn, “Mokhtar Belmokhtar now leads ‘Al Qaeda in West Africa,” Long War Journal, August 13, 2015, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/08/mokhtar-belmokhtar-now-leads-al-qaeda-in-west-africa.php.

On March 2, 2017, al-Mourabitoun merged with AQIM, Ansar al-Dine, and the Ansar al-Dine sub-group Macina Liberation Front to form Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM). JNIM announced Ansar al-Dine’s former emir, Iyad Ag Ghali, as its leader.Dario Cristiani, “Ten Years of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb: Evolution and Prospects,” Jamestown Foundation, May 5, 2017, https://jamestown.org/program/ten-years-al-qaeda-islamic-maghreb-evolution-prospects/; Beligh Nabli, “L’unification du djihadisme sahelien,” L’Economiste, June 3, 2017, http://www.leconomistemaghrebin.com/2017/03/06/lunification-djihadisme-sahelien/. Ghali claimed that the factions had united “into one group” operating under “one emir” after al-Qaeda “sought unification according to Sharia law.”Thomas Joscelyn, “Analysis: Al Qaeda groups reorganize in West Africa,” Long War Journal, March 13, 2017, https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/03/analysis-al-qaeda-groups-reorganize-in-west-africa.php. While operating under a new name and new emir, JNIM appears to remain under the aegis of al-Qaeda. Ghali paid bayat (allegiance) to al-Qaeda central and AQIM emir Abdelmalek Droukdel, a.k.a. Abu Musab Abdul Wadoud.Thomas Joscelyn, “Analysis: Al Qaeda groups reorganize in West Africa,” Long War Journal, March 13, 2017, https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2017/03/analysis-al-qaeda-groups-reorganize-in-west-africa.php.

Organizational Structure:

Al-Mourabitoun’s specific leadership structure is unknown, although the group’s leaders were subsumed under the AQIM branch in late 2015. The AQIM-affiliated group appears to be governed by an emir and a shura council that sets the organization’s agenda. Al-Mourabitoun has not publicly named most of its leaders,“Al-Murabitun,” Australian National Security, accessed June 17, 2015, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/Al-Murabitun.aspx. although co-founder Adnan Abu Waleed al-Sahrawi described himself as the group’s emir in a May 2015 declaration of al-Mourabitoun’s allegiance to ISIS.Agence France-Presse, “Belmokhtar's jihadist group in N.Africa vows allegiance to IS,” Yahoo News, May 14, 2015, http://news.yahoo.com/al-qaeda-linked-belmokhtar-group-n-africa-claims-001449854.html. Co-founder Mokhtar Belmokhtar rejected the pledge a week later, raising the question of whether al-Sahrawi or Belmokhtar was more senior in the group’s hierarchy.Reuters, “Sahara Islamist Leader Belmokhtar Dismisses Islamic State Pledge: Report,” New York Times, May 17, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2015/05/17/world/africa/17reuters-sahara-militants.html. However, Sahrawi split from al-Mourabitoun following his pledge of loyalty to ISIS.Thomas Joscelyn and Caleb Weiss, “Islamic State recognizes oath of allegiance from jihadists in Mali,” Long War Journal, October 31, 2016, https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2016/10/islamic-state-recognizes-oath-of-allegiance-from-jihadists-in-west-africa.php. Belmokhtar revealed that al-Mourabitoun has a governing shura council, which he said had not yet approved the pledge to ISIS.Reuters, “Sahara Islamist Leader Belmokhtar Dismisses Islamic State Pledge: Report,” New York Times, May 17, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2015/05/17/world/africa/17reuters-sahara-militants.html. Sahrawi died in a French drone strike in August 2021.Tom Wheeldon, “Sahrawi: The top Sahel jihadist killed in French ‘opportunistic hit,’” France 24, September 16, 2021, https://www.france24.com/en/africa/20210916-the-assassinated-abou-walid-al-sahrawi-france-s-major-enemy-in-the-sahel.

Al-Mourabitoun issued an online statement in July 2015 that its shura council had elected Belmokhtar the group’s new leader.Thomas Joscelyn, “Mokhtar Belmokhtar now leads ‘Al Qaeda in West Africa,” Long War Journal, August 13, 2015, http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2015/08/mokhtar-belmokhtar-now-leads-al-qaeda-in-west-africa.php. In March 2017, two additional al-Mourabitoun leaders were revealed: Abderrahmane al-Sanhadji, al-Mourabitoun’s top judge, and Elhacen Al-Ansari, its deputy leader.Mohamed Fall Oumère, “From the birth of a new "jihadistan" in the Sahel,” Le Monde Afrique (France), March 10, 2017, http://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2017/03/10/naissance-d-un-nouveau-djihadistan-au-sahel_5092710_3212.html.

Following al-Mourabitoun’s March 2017 merger with AQIM, Ansar al-Dine, and the Macina Liberation Front into JNIM, the relationship between the groups has shifted from one of collaboration to a structured hierarchy with AQIM at the top.Dario Cristiani, “Ten Years of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb: Evolution and Prospects,” Jamestown Foundation, May 5, 2017, https://jamestown.org/program/ten-years-al-qaeda-islamic-maghreb-evolution-prospects/. Ansar al-Dine emir Iyad ah-Ghali leads JNIM, but he has also reaffirmed his allegiance to AQIM emir Abu Musab Abdul Wadoud.Beligh Nabli, “L’unification du djihadisme sahelien,” L’Economiste, June 3, 2017, http://www.leconomistemaghrebin.com/2017/03/06/lunification-djihadisme-sahelien/. According to Malian and Mauritanian security sources, al-Mourabitoun’s top judge, Abderrahmane al-Sanhadji, replaced Mokhtar Belmokhtar as emir of al-Mourabitoun after its merger into JNIM.Malek Bachir, “EXCLUSIVE: Notorious leader of Saharan al-Qaeda group loses power,” Middle East Eye, May 9, 2017, http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/exclusive-belmokhtar-dismissed-leadership-al-mourabitoun-274790462. Al-Mourabitoun and JNIM have not confirmed the change in leadership.

Financing:

Al-Mourabitoun is likely funded through kidnapping ransoms and criminal activities, according to the U.S. State Department.“Country Reports on Terrorism 2013: Chapter 6: Foreign Terrorist Organizations,” U.S. Department of State, April 2014, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/225886.pdf. The group also likely receives funding through its connections to other terrorist organizations.“Country Reports on Terrorism 2013: Chapter 6: Foreign Terrorist Organizations,” U.S. Department of State, April 2014, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/225886.pdf. MUJAO had previously received funding through regional drug smuggling.“Al-Murabitun,” Australian National Security, accessed June 17, 2015, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/Al-Murabitun.aspx. MUJAO had also been involved in a 2011 kidnapping of three aid workers in Algeria who were later released in exchange for a ransom payment.“Al-Murabitun,” Australian National Security, accessed June 17, 2015, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/Al-Murabitun.aspx.

Recruitment:

Al-Mourabitoun largely consists of former AQIM members who left with AMB and MUJAO.“Al-Murabitun,” Australian National Security, accessed June 17, 2015, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/Al-Murabitun.aspx. Al-Mourabitoun’s primary recruiting area includes northern and western Africa, particularly Algeria, Mauritania, Mali, and Niger.“Al-Murabitun,” Australian National Security, accessed June 17, 2015, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/Al-Murabitun.aspx. The organization relies heavily upon recruiting locally, as Malians now make up the largest ethnic group in al-Mourabitoun.Olivier Guitta, “The re-emergence of AQIM in Africa,” Al Jazeers, March 20, 2016, http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2016/03/emergence-aqim-africa-160320090928469.html.

According to the United Nations, al-Mourabitoun established ties with local Libyan tribes and marginalized groups in early 2017 in order to expand its operations into Libya.“Challenges in Countering Terrorism in Libya,” Joint open briefing of the Counter Terrorism Committee, the 1267/1989/2253 ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, and the Libya Sanctions Committee, June 22, 2017, https://www.un.org/sc/ctc/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Concept-Note-Joint-open-briefing-on-Libya-22-Jun-17.pdf. However this is not the first time that al-Moutabitoun has tried to expand into Libya. In June 2015, a U.S. airstrike targeted Mokhtar Belmokhtar near Tobruk, Libya. In 2011, Belmokhtar visited an al-Qaeda training camp in Libya where he recruited the former al-Mourabitoun emir Abu Bakr al-Nasri.“Libya says former al-Qaeda leader killed in US strike,” Al-Jazeera, Jun2 15, 2015, http://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/airstrike-targets-al-qaeda-fighters-libya-150614214420506.html; Christine Muratat, “Mali: qui sont les nouveaux chefs des katibas jihadistes?” Radio France International: Afrique, 14 May, 2014, http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20140514-mali-etat-jihadistes-apres-mort-emir-al-mourabitoune-aqmi-al-qaida-mujao-belmokhtar/.

Training:

Both of al-Mourabitoun’s emirs, Mokhtar Belmokhtar and his predecessor Abu Bakr al-Nasri, first trained and fought against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s.“Profile: Mokhtar Belmokhtar,” BBC, June 15, 2015, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-21061480; Dario Cristiani, “ Al-Murabitun: North Africa’s Jihadists Reach into History in Their Battle against European “Crusaders”,” Jamestown Foundation, October 17, 2013, https://jamestown.org/program/al-murabitun-north-africas-jihadists-reach-into-history-in-their-battle-against-european-crusaders/. Both men trained in al-Qaeda training camps in the 1990s, and Belmokhtar first met and recruited al-Nasri from one such camp in Libya in 2011.“Mapping Militant Organizations,” Stanford University, August 8, 2016, http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/613?highlight=AQIM; Christine Muratat, “Mali: qui sont les nouveaux chefs des katibas jihadistes?” Radio France International: Afrique, 14 May, 2014, http://www.rfi.fr/afrique/20140514-mali-etat-jihadistes-apres-mort-emir-al-mourabitoune-aqmi-al-qaida-mujao-belmokhtar/. French forces killed Nasri in April 2014.“Mapping Militant Organizations,” Stanford University, August 8, 2016, http://web.stanford.edu/group/mappingmilitants/cgi-bin/groups/view/613?highlight=abu+bakr+al-baghdadi.

AQIM previously ran a training camp in Timbuktu, Mali, until the camp was destroyed in an airstrike.“Al-Qaeda,” Counter Extremism Project, accessed June 18, 2015, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/Al-Murabitun.aspx. Recruits ate, slept, and trained together in the camp.“Al-Qaeda,” Counter Extremism Project, accessed June 18, 2015, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/Al-Murabitun.aspx. Al-Qaeda also utilizes proxy training facilities provided by like-minded groups.“Al-Qaeda,” Counter Extremism Project, accessed June 18, 2015, http://www.nationalsecurity.gov.au/Listedterroristorganisations/Pages/Al-Murabitun.aspx.

Al-Mourabitoun’s leadership has maintained contact with AQIM, particularly through Djamel Okacha, AQIM’s leader in West Africa.“The List established and maintained by the 1267/1989 Committee,” U.N. Security Council, last updated May 22, 2015, http://www.un.org./sc/committees/1267/1267.pdf/.

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