Mali… Violent clashes in a “war of influence” between ISIS and Al-Qaeda

The war for influence has escalated between the two branches of ISIS and al-Qaeda in the state of Menaka, northern Mali, amid the absence of the army in the area, which has come under the influence of terrorist groups.

On Saturday, several areas of the state of Menaka witnessed violent clashes between the “Islamic State of the Greater Sahara” and the “Support for Islam and Muslims” group loyal to al-Qaeda, which resulted in deaths and injuries on both sides.

Violent clashes

Azawadiya sources told TnT Universal Tv:

• The clashes took place in the districts of Aghzragan, Adarbankar, Tamelt and Ensananen, Menaka State.
• ISIS announced that it had killed 40 members of the “Nusra al-Islam and Muslims” group during a clash in the town of Aghzraghan, in the area under the influence of the terrorist organization since last May, and seized weapons from the al-Nusra group.
• Violent clashes took place in the southwest of the Insananen area, which ended with the withdrawal of ISIS from the area, and the entry of Al-Nusra group members to the Adarnbukar area, which has been under ISIS control since March.

nature of conflict

The founding member of the “National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad”, Kay Ag Hamad, explains to “TnT Universal Tv” the reasons for the conflict and the war for influence between ISIS and the Al-Nusra group, by saying:

• The Menaka region is a strategic target and a base for ISIS in Mali and the Sahel region, to establish its “state”.
• The terrorist attacks of the organization have been repeated in recent months, and last March the region witnessed a “massacre” carried out by the terrorist organization, which killed more than 200 people, most of them civilians, in addition to the missing, in addition to the displacement of a large number of residents.
• May and September witnessed widespread clashes between ISIS and Al-Nusra, which led to the strengthening of the ISIS presence in Menaka State.
  ISIS took control of border areas between Niger and Mali, which contributed to supporting its elements with weapons and funding.
• ISIS aims to maintain its influence in Menaka, because it contains raw materials, primarily gold mining, and also to distinguish its geographical location near the Nigerien border, and to seize hundreds of livestock and pastures in its areas of control.
• ISIS attacks on the region have increased since France announced the end of its operations in Mali.
• The terrorist organization has a strong and effective presence in the three-border area between Azawad in northern Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, and in the state of Minyaka in particular, it has intensified its attacks against the civilian population more than at any time since last March, killing more than a thousand civilians, and dozens of soldiers. From the Platform Movements (Azawadia Group).

Al Nusra Places

As for the Nusra group, according to Ag Hamad:

• It is spread on the border strip with Algeria, Mauritania and the Macina region, and aims to expel ISIS from Mali and keep the northern regions of the country under its control.
• It aims to expand its influence and control over large areas of Mali, to achieve the dream of establishing a state similar to the Taliban movement in Afghanistan.
• It is working on the ground to expand its influence and areas of control, waiting for the right moment to declare its “Emirate”.

Causes of conflict

• Regarding the causes of the conflict, Ag Hamad stressed that “the conflict between ISIS and Al-Nusra is a conflict of influence and interests.”
• In a previous report to “TnT Universal Tv,” experts explained that “the terrorist organization aims to displace Bedouins and civilians from the border areas of the Triangle, and to seize the region rich in oil and gas.”
• The border area between Niger, Mali and Chad all the way to Libya is used by terrorist organizations to smuggle militants, weapons, drugs, fuel and migrants, and these are areas of permanent security “concern” for these countries.
• The Agadez region in northern Niger is the center of smuggling in the Sahara, and the region suffers from security fragility, ethnic conflict, and terrorist concentration.
• According to estimates by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS), 3,000 migrants cross Agadez from sub-Saharan Africa to Libya each week.
• In 2016, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimated that 170,000 migrants, mostly from West Africa, crossed Agadez to Libya, furthering ISIS’ ambitions in the region.