Sahel: new report issues serious warning of jihadist groups

A serious warning has been issued for the growing jihadist threat in the ‘Sahel triangle’, according to Atalayar on June 9th.

The warning came from a report by the Spanish intelligence service, The National Intelligence Centre (CNI). There are certain members of these jihadist groups, some in high ranking positions, who have links to Spain, familiarity with its culture and language, and therefore are being monitored by Spanish intelligence. Some of these individuals were beneficiaries of a Spanish humanitarian programme that takes children in refugee camps to Spain during summers to escape the harsh desert living conditions. 

“A group of jihadists who have had close contact with Spanish families are fluent in Spanish and now hold operational positions at the top of international terrorism,” said CNI sources quoted by the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia.

CNI’s report considers that the role of these groups in instigating attacks on European soil is “worrying” considering their significant expansion. Anti-terrosism experts have warned that Sahel is at a “key” moment, and the Spanish Department of National Security has fears that the region could become an uncontrollable sanctuary for terrorism close to Europe’s borders, according to Atalayar.

The ‘Sahel triangle’ refers to the area where the borders of the three countries Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger meet. It is one of the most violent and dangerous regions in the world, and in early June during the first days of Eid al-Adha, attacks in southern Mali and Northern Burkina Faso spiked. 

On March 5th this year, Maghrebi reported on Sahel being labelled the “global centre of terrorism” by the Global Terrorism Index. 

There were two organisations highlighted in the report: Jama’at Nusrat al Islam wa al Muslimeen and Daesh-West Africa Province. The former is affiliated with al-Qaeda and is aiming to expand into the Maghreb in order to move closer to Europe, whilst the latter is linked to ISIS and has radicalised Sahrawis in their leadership.

It is not just militant jihadist groups making Sahel the most dangerous place on the planet. One nickname for the region of ‘coup belt’, owing to the commonplace military coups which leave military juntas running countries. These juntas are unable to control the growing jihadist groups they clash with. In Mali, more than 400 soldiers have recently been killed in clashes with jihadist militias, according to Atalayar.

The report from CNI brings attention to the rise of Iyad Ag Ghali, the new ‘warlord’ of Sahel who leads the jihadist group’s strategy. His militia is made up of over 6000 fighters, and focuses on gaining control over rural areas before moving in on the larger, capital cities- a tactic used previously in Damascus and Kabul.

The rapid radicalisation of Sahrawi people into these groups reflects the relevance of human rights. The lack of prospects and opportunities for young people in refugee camps in the Algerian desert makes them an ideal breeding ground for radicalisation, according to experts. Human rights organizations have denounced the neglect from governments that contributes significantly to the problem. 

Atalayar/Maghrebi