Libya: Thoughts on the kidnapping of 2 Italians and 1 Canadian workers at Ghat
Rida Lyammouri September 27, 2016 There are still no news and more questions asked than answers one week after the kidnapping of two Italians and one Canadian in southwest Libya. Italian government was first to confirm the abduction of two of its citizens while...
Mali: From le Movement National de l’Azawad to Mouvement pour le Salut de l’Azawad (MSA) – Images
Key members of the National Movement for the Liberation of the Azawad (MNLA) split from the group and created Mouvement pour le Salut de l’Azawad (MSA). The MSA is an initiative led by two former MNLA figures, Moussa Ag Acharatoumane and Assalat Ag Habi. While...
Mali: AQIM, Ansar al-Din and Related Security Incidents for August 2016
Security situation in Mali remains a major concern due to ongoing attacks by violent extremist organizations (VEOs) against Malian, French, and the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA). Similar to July, almost exclusively all the attacks...
Mali: AQIM, Ansar al-Din and Related Security Incidents for July 2016
Violent extremist organizations (VEOs) operating in Mali remained active and operational in Mali throughout the month of July, especially Ansar al-Din. Attacks conducted in Mali were mainly carried by Ansar al-Din, targeting mostly the Multidimensional Integrated...
Mali: AQIM and Security Related Incidents in June 2016
Violent extremist organizations (VEOs) operating in Mali remained aggressive in June and deadly throughout northern and central Mali, especially Ansar al-Din. VEOs operational in Mali include Ansar al-Din, the Macina Liberation Front (MLF) or Ansar al-Din southern...
Mali: Armed group emerged in central Mali to defend Fulani people
By Rida Lyammouri June 20th, 2016 On June 19th a new armed group emerged in central Mali, Alliance Nationale pour la Souvegarde de l'Identité Peule et la Restauration de la Justice (ANSIPRJ), roughly translated to the National Alliance for the Protection of Fulani...
Mali: AQIM and Security Related Incidents in May 2016
By Rida Lyammouri June 1st, 2016 Violent extremist organizations (VEOs) operating in Mali remained in May aggressive and deadly throughout northern and central Mali. VEOs operational in Mali include Ansar al-Din, the Macina Liberation Front (MLF) or Ansar al-Din...
Simultaneous Attacks on MINUSMA and UNMAS in Gao, Mali
By Rida Lyammouri, May 31st, 2016 Here is what we know so far about Gao attack. Tuesday night the Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization in Mali (MINUSMA) and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) were targeted in Gao by almost simultaneous attacks. First...
Fulani Refugees at M’berra, Mauritania, Chased by Malian Army
By Rida Lyammouri May 20th, 2016 After rising to prominence in early 2015 the Macina Liberation Front (MLF) became popular for executing civilians suspected to have collaborated with the Malian forces. The MLF also repeatedly targeted Malian forces in central and...
Short Assessment on Violent Extremism Threat in Burkina Faso
By Rida Lyammouri May 18th, 2016 In less than a year Burkina Faso experienced attacks by different extremist groups, including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the Macina Liberation Front (MLF) or Ansar al-Din south, and al-Murabitun of Adnan Abu Walid...
Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahraoui Threatens Morocco
By Rida Lyammouri May 7th, 2015 Al-Jazeera Arabic reported on 04 May 2016 to have received an audio recording from so called Islamic State in Grand Sahara. Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahraoui, leader of the group and who pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi in May 2015,...
April 2016 AQIM and Related Security Incidents in Mali
By Rida Lyammouri May 1st, 2016 Background: Violent extremist organizations (VEOs) operating in Mali remain determined to disrupt efforts by Malian government and its partners to stabilize the country. VEOs currently operational in Mali include Ansar al-Din, the...
Updated – Mali: Ansar al-Din Claim and More on ICRC Staff Kidnapping
By Rida Lyammouri April 20th, 2016 Reportedly, they were four staff members of the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) initially kidnapped, and one was released and three currently remain in the hands of Ansar al-Din. Ansar al-Din reportedly claimed...
My Thoughts on Alleged AQIM Men Defected to IS in S. Libya!
By Rida Lyammouri April 17th, 2016 On 10 April 2016 an article quoting Algerian security sources claimed members of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) joined the so-called Islamic State (IS) in south Libya. Security investigators indicated that this was a result...
March 2016 AQIM and Related Security Incidents in Mali
By Rida Lyammouri April 1st, 2016 Summary Violent extremist organizations (VEOs) operating in Mali remain determined to disrupt efforts by Malian government and its partners to stabilize the country. VEOs currently operational in Mali include Ansar al-Din, the Macina...
Libya as a Source of Weapons to Mali Through Northeast Niger
By Rida Lyammouri March 18th, 2016 Important: This post provides information about weapons, drugs, and other illicit trafficking seizures in Northeastern Niger between September 2014 and May 2015. Please note that information provided is taken directly from a recent...
February 2016 AQIM and Security Related Violence in Mali
By Rida Lyammouri March 1st, 2016 Violent extremist organizations (VEOs) operating in Mali include al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), al-Murabitun, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJWA), the Macina Liberation Front (MLF), and Ansar al-Din. Below...
Kidal Region, Mali: AQIM and Ansar al-Din Related Attacks and Brief Analysis
By Rida Lyammouri Note: Chronology of the attacks covered 01 December 2014 to 31 December 2015 period. For incidents that took place in Kidal city, please see previous post. Violent extremist organizations (VEOs) operating in Kidal region include al-Qaeda in the...
Summary of 2015 AQIM and VEOs Related Attacks on MINUSMA in Kidal, Northern Mali
By Rida Lyammouri In 2015, The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was targeted at least 8 times by violent extremist groups (VEOs) in Kidal, Mali alone. Groups operating in the area include al-Qaeda in the Islamic...
AQIM Never Really Abandoned Timbuktu, Mali
By Rida Lyammouri February 6th, 2016 Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is making noise again in northern Mali, thanks to its Grand Sahara branch, based in Timbuktu region. AQIM been in the news for the past couple months more than it has been for the past two...