Terrorism
is also reported that Al Qaeda militants offer their protective services to South American drug cartels operating in the region in exchange for weapons and ammunition. Mokhtar Belmoktar, the ruthless, one-eyed Algerian fighter, has served as the primary connection between Al Qaeda, Ansar Dine and various underworld entities operating throughout the region. Solidifying his network in Sahelistan by marrying into wealthy local tribes, Belmoktar was made a senior leader in AQIM before founding Al Murabitoon, an Al Qaeda-affiliated militant group responsible for the deaths of 40 hostages in the In Amenas siege in Algeria. Though the French claimed to have killed Belmokthar in 2013, he has ‘reappeared’ in typical Al Qaeda fashion at various times to take responsibility for terrorist actions, including a strike on a French enterprise in Niger that killed at least 12 soldiers. Belmokhtar may currently be hiding in Derna and relies heavily on his ties to Kufa and Ghaly for survival. Nevertheless, Belmoktar, sometimes referred to as Mr Marlboro for his success in cigarette smuggling, has left an enduring footprint in the form of a booming illegal economy in an otherwise deserted land. The resources acquired from these various illegal activities line the pockets of extremist leaders and trickle down to fund all aspects of their operation. They have proven particularly useful for recruitment. Ansar Dine, under the leadership of its ostentatiously dressed leader, Igar Ag Ghaly, successfully recruit Tuareg youth due in large part to the region’s economic strife. In one of the poorest regions of the world with little hope for the young, militant groups such as Ansar Dine can afford to supply young men with salaries and arms. In many cases these resources are far more than what is offered to soldiers of national armies in the region who sometimes do not receive salaries for months at a time. Recruitment of these youth often takes place face to face at mosques or through direct contacts of religious leaders. In addition to recruiting the youth, there is evidence that Al Qaeda intends to use funds from its Sahelistan operations to govern the region by assuming the provision of public goods in an area where states have been largely ineffective in doing so. Letters found in Timbuktu addressed to AQIM leader, Abdelmalek Droukdel, reveal Al Qaida’s intention to provide electricity, water and even garbage disposal to win over local populations to their cause. International reactions and implications Prior to the UN Security Council Resolution to establish a multinational coalition in Mali, France and the United States were the only Western countries to have a continued presence in Sahelistan. French involvement began in 2013 following the attack on a French outpost in Niger. The United States, aware of the smuggling in the region and its potential to fund terrorism worldwide, sent Special Forces to train Malian military troops patrolling the area and established an intelligence outpost in neighbouring Niger. Despite the concerted efforts of MINUSA to provide a multifaceted approach to building security in the region, bringing order to this lawless land presents significant, enduring challenges. First, as many observers have noted, it is difficult to distinguish terrorists from other, relatively more
14 | Australian Security Magazine
innocuous traffickers and smugglers in the region as their activities become more intertwined and a shared interest in keeping Western influences out of the region is fostered. Anti-Western rhetoric is echoed by militants throughout the region and is becoming increasingly audible in Bamako, where dormant cells are thought to be formulating in the city’s centre of Hamdalay. High on the list of potential targets of the cells are foreign embassies not only in the capital city of Bamako, but also in Nouakchott (Mauritania), Dakar (Senegal), and Abidjan (Ivory Coast). Second, powerful alliances between AQIM, Ansar Dine and other extremist groups in Mali could signal a future consolidation of power and resources sufficient to topple Mali and extend to areas of neighbouring countries. Speaking under anonymity, a security specialist in Bamako expects Sub-Saharan Africa will remain Al Qaeda territory, with the likely formation of Al Qaeda in West Africa according to plans Belmokhtar put in place. If consolidated under one entity, the group would pose a formidable force. The jihadi militants of the north, particularly Tuareg rebels, are highly trained and experienced. They are expert weapon handlers, bomb makers, and gaining formidable strategic competency, particularly in launching surprise attacks at night. Given the massive influx of arms from Libya, these militants already pose a serious threat to national and regional security and Western interests in the region. However, if these groups consolidate, joined by their determination to remain free from Western influences and under the auspices of realising an Islamic caliphate, their presence will be felt far beyond the sands of Sahelistan. About the author Anooshe is a first generation Australian of Pakistani origin. She spent her early years in Pakistan and several years in Libya on posting with her family. Since her arrival in Sydney in 1985 Anooshe has experienced first-hand the changing cultural landscape of Australia. She is studying a Masters of Terrorism and Security at Charles Sturt University. She has published extensively and spoken on the topic of Muslim youth radicalisation, violent extremism, Islamic State’s ideology and National Security Threats.