alkhabar
Maghreb
A proximité
-
Algeria 'jails 14 Malians for arms smuggling'
-
Donor conference amasses 3.25 bln euros for rebuilding Mali
-
A Moroccan and an Algerian suspected members of Al Qaeda arrested in Spain
-
France launches major offensive on Mali Islamists
-
Iyad Ag Ghali, head of Ansare Dine, attempting to enter the Moroccan Sahara
Kidnap suspects in Mali. Photo @ AFP
Who is this new group ? The only information available at this time is that these dissidents claim to be the Jamaat Tawhid Wal Jihad Fi Garbi Ifriqiya. They see themselves as a dissident groups of AQIM. "We claim responsibility for the operation that occurred on October 23 in Tindouf where two Spanish nationals and an Italian citizen have been kidnapped," said their message in writing to the AFP correspondent in Bamako. Moreover, the same message was read during a telephone by a man claiming to be a spokesperson for this group which is made up of dissidents of AQIM, without however pecifying the reasons for their dissent.
Clearly the operation was carried by those in the ranks of the Islamist groups who traffic in weapons, drugs, cigarettes and the kidnapping of Westerners and are influenced by a certain kind of fighting Islamist ideology.
Jamaat Tawhid Wal Jihad Fi Garbi translates as the Movement for Jihad Unit in West Africa and it is not just operating in the Maghreb region. These Islamist dissidents aspire to be active throughout West Africa. This wider geographical focus is now causing security concerns for the entire region.
In truth, these AQIM dissidents are faithful to the internationalist ideology of Al Qaeda. It is likely that elements of the extremist group Boko Haram operating in Nigeria, or at least some elements of it are joining or are already part of the Unity Movement for Jihad in West Africa (Mujao).
"In its nucleus, there are elements Sahrawis who participated in the kidnapping of three Europeans in the Tindouf camps, there are Algerians but also nationals of West Africa," said the source.
The three aid workers - one male and one female Spanish and Italian woman were kidnapped on the night of October 23 in Rabun, one of the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria, near Tindouf. Beyond the ransom it could earn its authors, this operation seems to be a test t which the Mujao Sahrawis have passed. To be accepted by this group, requires a "spectacular" action. This has nothing to do with the Polisario movement. Contrary to comments from different sources.
One thing is certain: the emergence of the new Islamist group will make it difficult for negotiators to free the hostages. This abduction claim came as a high-level meeting in Nouakchott of ten European and African ministers from the Mediterranean area who met on Sunday. They included ministers from Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia Morocco and Mauritania.
There was considerable concern expressed about the influx of sophisticated weapons including ground to air missiles from Libya following the fall of the Gaddafi regime. There was also concern by the europeans for their nationals who are prime targets of AQIM and now Mujao as kidnappers. This forces the european governments to support the security services in the region which includes the Maghreb,the Sahel and the whole of West Africa. "I ask everyone to work to dry up the sources of terrorism and to push the kidnappers into a corner by not paying ransom," said Mauritania's defence minister, Ahmedou Ould Ideye, at the opening of the meeting. With organisations like Muajo this may be more difficult to achieve because of their wider geographical reach.
Clearly the operation was carried by those in the ranks of the Islamist groups who traffic in weapons, drugs, cigarettes and the kidnapping of Westerners and are influenced by a certain kind of fighting Islamist ideology.
Jamaat Tawhid Wal Jihad Fi Garbi translates as the Movement for Jihad Unit in West Africa and it is not just operating in the Maghreb region. These Islamist dissidents aspire to be active throughout West Africa. This wider geographical focus is now causing security concerns for the entire region.
In truth, these AQIM dissidents are faithful to the internationalist ideology of Al Qaeda. It is likely that elements of the extremist group Boko Haram operating in Nigeria, or at least some elements of it are joining or are already part of the Unity Movement for Jihad in West Africa (Mujao).
"In its nucleus, there are elements Sahrawis who participated in the kidnapping of three Europeans in the Tindouf camps, there are Algerians but also nationals of West Africa," said the source.
The three aid workers - one male and one female Spanish and Italian woman were kidnapped on the night of October 23 in Rabun, one of the Sahrawi refugee camps in Algeria, near Tindouf. Beyond the ransom it could earn its authors, this operation seems to be a test t which the Mujao Sahrawis have passed. To be accepted by this group, requires a "spectacular" action. This has nothing to do with the Polisario movement. Contrary to comments from different sources.
One thing is certain: the emergence of the new Islamist group will make it difficult for negotiators to free the hostages. This abduction claim came as a high-level meeting in Nouakchott of ten European and African ministers from the Mediterranean area who met on Sunday. They included ministers from Spain, France, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia Morocco and Mauritania.
There was considerable concern expressed about the influx of sophisticated weapons including ground to air missiles from Libya following the fall of the Gaddafi regime. There was also concern by the europeans for their nationals who are prime targets of AQIM and now Mujao as kidnappers. This forces the european governments to support the security services in the region which includes the Maghreb,the Sahel and the whole of West Africa. "I ask everyone to work to dry up the sources of terrorism and to push the kidnappers into a corner by not paying ransom," said Mauritania's defence minister, Ahmedou Ould Ideye, at the opening of the meeting. With organisations like Muajo this may be more difficult to achieve because of their wider geographical reach.
