Analysis
Sahel MeMo wants save clients both time and resources. Sahel MeMo will regularly publish invaluable and timely short analysis that can be accessed at any time. Concise analysis is paramount to Sahel MeMo’s mission. Clients should have easy and understandable access to information surrounding regional topics of interest. Sahel MeMo recognizes the need for clients to stay informed while digesting open-source reporting, which is time consuming to compile and organize. Sahel MeMo reports include monthly incident tracking, quick response analysis about an event, qualitative and quantitative analysis, and updated assessments about conditions in the region.
April 2016 AQIM and Related Security Incidents in Mali
By Rida Lyammouri May 1st, 2016 Background: Violent extremist organizations (VEOs) operating in Mali remain determined to disrupt efforts by Malian government and its partners to stabilize the country. VEOs currently operational in Mali include Ansar al-Din, the...
Arrest of Ansaru Leader Barnawi Raises Questions About the Group’s Status
By Omar. S.Mahmood April 27th, 2016 On April 1st, Nigerian security forces in the central state of Kogi arrested Khalid al-Barnawi, a prominent jihadist figure and presumed leader of the Boko Haram offshoot Ansaru. Despite uncertainty regarding his recent status,...
Updated – Mali: Ansar al-Din Claim and More on ICRC Staff Kidnapping
By Rida Lyammouri April 20th, 2016 Reportedly, they were four staff members of the International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) initially kidnapped, and one was released and three currently remain in the hands of Ansar al-Din. Ansar al-Din reportedly claimed...
My Thoughts on Alleged AQIM Men Defected to IS in S. Libya!
By Rida Lyammouri April 17th, 2016 On 10 April 2016 an article quoting Algerian security sources claimed members of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) joined the so-called Islamic State (IS) in south Libya. Security investigators indicated that this was a result...
Summary of 31 March 2016 Boko Haram Video
By Rida Lyammouri April 1, 2016 Boko Haram, the so-called Islamic State branch in west Africa, released a new video on 31 March 2016. This video came after Abubakar Shekau released a video where he appeared weak and defeated. In last week video, unlike previous ones,...
March 2016 AQIM and Related Security Incidents in Mali
By Rida Lyammouri April 1st, 2016 Summary Violent extremist organizations (VEOs) operating in Mali remain determined to disrupt efforts by Malian government and its partners to stabilize the country. VEOs currently operational in Mali include Ansar al-Din, the Macina...
Libya as a Source of Weapons to Mali Through Northeast Niger
By Rida Lyammouri March 18th, 2016 Important: This post provides information about weapons, drugs, and other illicit trafficking seizures in Northeastern Niger between September 2014 and May 2015. Please note that information provided is taken directly from a recent...
February 2016 AQIM and Security Related Violence in Mali
By Rida Lyammouri March 1st, 2016 Violent extremist organizations (VEOs) operating in Mali include al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), al-Murabitun, the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJWA), the Macina Liberation Front (MLF), and Ansar al-Din. Below...
Kidal Region, Mali: AQIM and Ansar al-Din Related Attacks and Brief Analysis
By Rida Lyammouri Note: Chronology of the attacks covered 01 December 2014 to 31 December 2015 period. For incidents that took place in Kidal city, please see previous post. Violent extremist organizations (VEOs) operating in Kidal region include al-Qaeda in the...
Summary of 2015 AQIM and VEOs Related Attacks on MINUSMA in Kidal, Northern Mali
By Rida Lyammouri In 2015, The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was targeted at least 8 times by violent extremist groups (VEOs) in Kidal, Mali alone. Groups operating in the area include al-Qaeda in the Islamic...
AQIM Never Really Abandoned Timbuktu, Mali
By Rida Lyammouri February 6th, 2016 Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is making noise again in northern Mali, thanks to its Grand Sahara branch, based in Timbuktu region. AQIM been in the news for the past couple months more than it has been for the past two...
January 2016 AQIM and Security Related Incidents in Mali
By Rida Lyammouri 07 January 2016: Gunmen abducted a Swiss woman identified as Beatrice Stockly in Timbuktu. Al-Qa’ida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) claimed responsibility in a video the group released on January 26th, 2016. 09 January 2016: AQIM released a video of...
Key Events That Led to Tensions Between Mokhtar Belmokhtar and Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi Before Splitting
By Rida Lyammouri December 7th, 2015 Northern Mali saw the creation of al-Murabitun in August 2013. The group was a result of an allegiance between the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJWA) and the al-Mulathamun brigade, both of which were Al-Qaeda in...
AQIM MAKING NOISE AGAIN IN TIMBUKTU REGION – NORTHERN MALI
By Rida Lyammouri December 3rd, 2015 On 01 December 2015, Al Akhbar published a video of an al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) leader speaking to a local crowd in northern Mali. The quality of the video is very poor and the event reportedly took place in...
Just Another Day of Work for NGO Workers in Northern Mali
By Rida Lyammouri, 11 November 2015 Note: The name of the NGO and the identities of its workers were not stated citing security and confidentiality reasons. On 03 November 2015 a group of five workers for a non-governmental organization (NGO) were kidnapped and...
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