ISLAMISTES: LA DEROUTE

In: Politique internationale: pi, Heft 139, S. 1

Abstract

Terrorist groups active in the Sahel region have been routed by French forces in recent months. Hundreds of radical fighters and several key leaders have been eliminated and almost all of Mali has been taken back. This is attributed to the excellent preparation and execution of Operation Serval and the support offered to France by all border states, combined with the weak local powerbase of the Islamists and the internal divisions within the various radical groups, as spectacularly illustrated by the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), which switched sides. This secular Tuareg organization, initially allied to the hard-line Salafi group Ansar One, itself linked to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). was ousted by its partners and ended up fighting against them, alongside French forces. A note of caution, however. Although it has been considerably weakened, the jihadist threat has not been eradicated completely. Adapted from the source document.