History might be repeating itself as French forces move into North Africa to fight Islamist radicals. Who are the main players in this new war? Here are ten things worth knowing about the conflict in Mali...
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The Tuareg
Though central to the war in Mali, the Tuareg are not Islamists. A semi-nomadic people, they have been there for at least 2,500 years, living in a region that covers parts of Mali, Niger, Libya, Algeria and Burkina Faso. Recognisable by the indigo veils worn by adult males, the Tuareg have long rebelled against those seeking to dominate them. Notably, they fought French colonialism in the early 1900s and later the governments of Mali and Niger, who tried to control the natural resources found on Tuareg land. Though largely Muslims, the Taureg want a secular homeland. The MNLA (National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad) is their militant front.
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National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA)
The MNLA is the Taureg’s militant force and was instrumental in capturing parts of north and east Mali, with the help of Islamists. Loose ties have long existed with regional Islamist groups, but the MNLA has no interest in establishing a Muslim state. Some Islamist groups have even outright attacked MNLA forces, driving them from captured cities. This has caused friction with the groups that fought with the MNLA in Mali, prompting it to switch sides and support the French military action.
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Salafism
Salafi means ‘true faith’ or ‘fundamentalist’ in Arab. It is a Muslim philosophy that rejects any teachings which emerged after the Prophet Muhammad - the proper name is al-Salaf al-Salih or “righteous ancestors”. Salafism grew popular in the 19th century and for a long time has remained outside of politics, as well as advocating non-violent change. It supports hardline Sharia law and opposes most Arab royalty, especially Saudi Arabia’s Al-Saud family. But Salafist Jihadists started to emerge in the late Eighties, bringing extreme violence with it. Salafism is the philosophical inspiration for many Islamist groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood.
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Algeria’s Role
The North African country of Algeria lies central to the current radical Islamism plaguing the region. Arab and Islamic nationalism has been strong there ever since France oppressed the cultures after making Algeria a colony in the late 1800s. In 1962 the country gained independence, but soon fell into the hands of an authoritarian socialist state. Reforms at the end of the 70s allowed for multiple parties and elections. But in 1992 the military cancelled an election when the FIS (Front Islamique du Salut) was poised to win. The party was soon banned, sparking a civil war that was spearheaded by the GIA (Armed Islamic Group of Algeria), the FIS’ militant wing. When the GIA agreed to a ceasefire in the late Nineties, a splinter faction called the GSPC (Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat) broke away. It would later become Al-Qaeda In The Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
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France’s Role
It might seem strange that France is leading the war against the region’s terrorists, but it has a lot of close links there. North Africa made up a vast chunk of France’s colonies: Mauritania, Niger, Algeria, Tunisia, Gambia, Chad, Morocco and Mali were all under its rule. Though all of them gained independence since the 1960s, France has kept close ties to the region. Ten percent of its development funds go to these countries and France is the leading supplier of goods to much of North Africa. It also imports a substantial number of North African products and around 10 percent - 6 million - of France’s metropolitan population are North African.
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Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)
The Maghreb was a loose alliance of countries along the North African coast - from Libya to Mauritania. AQIM recruits from this region, as well as countries such as Mali and Niger. It was originally called the GSPC (Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat), a radical faction that broke away from Algeria’s armed militants. The GSPC maintained itself through smuggling and kidnapping, growing into the region’s most powerful Islamist group. In the late 2000s, Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud rose to become its leader. A protege of radical Islamist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, he wasted no time affiliating the GSPC with Al-Qaeda, changing its name to the AQIM.
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Ansar al Din
Literally “helpers of the Islamic faith”, Ansar al Din is a Malian Islamist group that draws members largely from the Tuareg community. It rose into prominence in 2012 with several attacks, fighting for the wholesale conversion of Mali into an Islamic state under Sharia law. Its leader, Iyad Ag Ghaly, has numerous ties to Al-Qaeda and other Islamist groups. Ansar initially fought against Mali’s forces with the MNLA (National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad), which wants an independent Tuareg homeland. But the MNLA does not support the ideal of an Islamist state and, alarmed by Ansar’s hardline goals, has since turned against the group.
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Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO)
Rising from Mali’s Gao region, the MUJAO is similar to Ansar al Din. It wants to convert Mali into an Islamist state under Sharia law. But unlike Ansar, which recruits mainly from local people, the MUJAO has substantial numbers of foreigners in its militias. This is due to the group being a splinter faction of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), with which it has a difficult relationship. The MUJAO has actively attacked more traditional Tuareg groups and is one of Ansar al Din’s main allies in Mali.
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Mokhtar Belmokhtar
Mokhtar Belmokhtar, also known as Khaled Aboul Abbas, might be the new face of Islamic radicals. Formerly a commander in Al-Qaeda In The Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), he is thought to be the mastermind behind the deadly hostage drama in Algeria. He first became an Islamic radical fighter at age 19, joining the battle against Russia in Afghanistan - where he lost his left eye to shrapnel. Also an infamous warlord, kidnapper and cigarette smuggler (one of his nicknames is Mr. Marlboro), his Signed-in-Blood Battalion faction was responsible for the kidnapping of U.N. envoy Robert Fowler. It is said he split from AQIM after its leaders became uncomfortable with the success and size of his smuggling operations and networks.
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Boko Haram
This Islamist group wants control of North Nigeria, which would be converted to an Islamist state under Sharia law. Though popularly called Boko Haram, its full name is Jama'atu Ahlus-Sunnah Lidda'Awati Wal Jihad. It has no real stake in the war in Mali - Boko Haram has rarely attacked Western or International interests. But it has frequently kidnapped foreigners - often with fatal consequences. Analysts doubt Boko Haram has any real solidarity with Al-Qaeda or radical Islamist in North Africa. But there are ties to that region: when Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau was recently wounded, he allegedly fled to Mali for protection under its Islamist groups. Recently military forces on route to Mali were attacked by a possible Boko Haram splinter group, JAMBS (Jama'atu Ansarul Musilimina Fi Biladis Sudan), who oppose Nigeria’s involvement in the conflict.
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