Jama'at Nasr Al-Islam Wal-Muslimin

Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (, JNIM; , GSIM; ) is a Salafi Jihadist organisation in the Maghreb and West Africa formed by the merger of Ansar Dine, the Macina Liberation Front, al-Mourabitoun and the Saharan branch of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Its leaders swore allegiance to Ayman al-Zawahiri.

In 2022, ''The Economist'' noted that JNIM is the fastest-growing terrorist group globally.

History

On 2 March 2017, Iyad Ag Ghaly, Al Murabitoun's deputy leader, Hassan Al Ansari, Yahya Abu Hammam, Amadou Kouffa, and Abu Abderaham al-Sanhaji appeared in a video declaring the creation of Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin, and their allegiance to al-Qaeda Emir Ayman al-Zawahiri, AQIM's Emir, Abdelmalek Droukdel, and Taliban Emir, Hibatullah Akhundzada.

They also praised killed al-Qaeda leaders Osama bin Laden and Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. On 16 March, Abdelmalek Droukdel released an audio message, approving the union between the groups. On 19 March, Al-Qaeda issued a statement approving the new group and accepting their oath of allegiance.

Two leaders sanctioned by the US Treasury's office were named as Ali Maychou and Bah Ag Moussa. Moussa was a former Malian army colonel who led an operation in March 2019 against the Malian Armed Forces base in Dioura that killed at least 21 Malian soldiers. Maychou was a native of Morocco who had claimed responsibility for a JNIM attack on a military camp that housed Malian troops in Gao, killing dozens. The Treasury office said Maychou held an operational role in JNIM's activities, while Moussa acted on behalf of JNIM's leader Iyad Ag Ghaly. In 2021, two additional leaders were designated as Specially Designated Global Terrorists: Sidan Ag Hitta and Salem ould Breihmatt.

The French government declared that 50 jihadists linked to the al-Qaeda group were killed in central Mali during an operation launched by the French anti-jihadist Barkhane force on 30 October 2020. The French force also confiscated arms and material and captured four of the jihadists live, as per French Defense Minister Florence Parly. The French authorities also confirmed the death of a key JNIM leader Bah ag Moussa with four of his group. He was in charge of terrorist operations and training new extremist recruits. France has deployed more than 5,000 troops in the Sahel region to combat insurgents.

On 29 March 2021, a force of about 100 members raided a camp of UN Peacekeepers in Northern Mali, approximately from the Algerian border. Four of the Chadian Peacekeepers were killed in the assault, and 34 wounded. Initial reports suggested that approximately 20 of the jihadists had been killed, a number that was later revised to 40, including Abdallaye Ag Albaka. Ag Albaka was described as "a right-hand man to Iyad Ag Ghaly", and unofficially as the Number 3 man in the organization.

Salafi terrorism and Salafi Jihadism

JNIM is a Salafi Jihadist or Salafi terrorist organisation in the Africa formed by the merger of Ansar Dine, the Macina Liberation Front, al-Mourabitoun and the Saharan branch of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (former Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat).

Activity

From 2017 to 2023, JNIM was responsible for more than half of violent events across the Sahel region, notably due to increased capabilities in using roadside bombs, mortars, landmines and rockets. It had its most violent interactions with Burkina Faso's military (1,762 times) and the Malian army (945 times). It also targets volunteer fighting groups as well as communities it considers sympathetic to the state.

Islamic State in the Greater Sahara serves as an opponent to JNIM and while it does not have the same strength and capabilities of JNIM, it is similar to JNIM and the strategy it uses. Ghaly has stated that JNIM's strategy is to expand its presence across West Africa and train militants to fight against the group's enemies while appeasing local communities by giving them material resources and signing local agreements. JNIM regularly attacks French, multinational, and local security forces in West Africa, as well as local and foreign civilians in the region.

In June 2024, JNIM fighters claimed to have killed more than 100 soldiers at an army base in the northern region of Mansila near Niger. Security analysts said it was one of the deadliest attacks on government forces ever in the region. JNIM also claimed to have captured seven soldiers and seized weapons and ammunition.

JNIM claimed in July 2024 a "complex ambush" had wiped out a convoy during the Battle of Tinzaouaten, killing 50 Russians and a number of Malian soldiers, and published videos showing several vehicles ablaze as well as dozens of bodies in the area. A Tuareg militant group spokesman said some Malian troops and Russian fighters had also been captured during the battle. According to some unofficial Russian Telegram channels, as many as 80 Russians were killed. That would make it by far the worst loss for Russian paramilitaries in several years of operating in Africa, as the Kremlin has sought to use proxy forces to challenge Western influence across the Sahel and central Africa and prop up unstable regimes.

On 25 August 2024, JNIM launched a major attack on people given the responsibility of digging trenches for the protection of security outposts in the region of Barsalogho, Burkina Faso, killing at least 400 soldiers and civilians.

JNIM attacked a military training camp near the airport in Mali's capital in September 2024 as explosions were heard in the area. Within hours, the government announced it was temporarily closing the airport in Bamako. The whole attack lasted for 9 hours and 100+ were killed and wounded. At least 15 people were arrested in connection with the attack. JNIM took responsibility through their media.

Aims and support

The Center for Strategic and International Studies describes JNIM as "an al Qaeda-affiliated Salafi-jihadist insurgent organization that seeks to replace established state authority with a conservative interpretation of Islamic law."

In 2022, the Africa Center for Strategic Studies said that JNIM does not have wide popular support.

In January 2024, it was reported that some clans from northern Mali had sworn allegiance to JNIM.

Economist Intelligence Units reported in 2024 that "The local populations support (JNIM) more than IS-affiliated groups. JNIM has integrated into local rebel groups, which have close community ties while IS-affiliated groups are more foreign to the region."

JNIM has formed alliances with local communities and the Tuareg or other ethnic factions.

See also

*Islamist insurgency in the Sahel
*Jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso

References

{{Al-Qaeda
Anti-Israeli sentiment
Organizations designated as terrorist by Iraq
Organisations designated as terrorist by the United Kingdom
Organizations designated as terrorist by the United States
Organizations based in Africa designated as terrorist
Jihadist groups in Algeria
Rebel groups in Burkina Faso
Rebel groups in Mali
Rebel groups in Niger
Salafi Jihadist groups
2017 establishments in Africa
Organizations established in 2017
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
Military units and factions of the Mali War