Islamist insurgency in the Sahel: Difference between revisions

{{flag|Niger}}<ref>{{Cite news |date=15 June 2011 |title=Niger army hunts for Al-Qaeda after clash |publisher=AFP |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5izdxWFAGBaPrzePzMhFV_lG7_8UA?docId=CNG.7c89daafc598520ace67ee7e41be9139.621 |url-status=livedead |access-date=3 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304174249/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5izdxWFAGBaPrzePzMhFV_lG7_8UA?docId=CNG.7c89daafc598520ace67ee7e41be9139.621 |archive-date=4 March 2014}}</ref><br>{{flag|Nigeria}}<br>{{flag|Cameroon}}<br>

{{flagicon|Russia}} [[Wagner GroupRussia]]<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/1/mali-receives-helicopters-weapons-from-russia|title=Mali receives helicopters and weapons from Russia|newspaper=Al Jazeera|date=October 1, 2021|access-date=June 3, 2022|archive-date=April 19, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220419222217/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/10/1/mali-receives-helicopters-weapons-from-russia|url-status=live}}</ref>

| combatant2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of Jihad.svg|size=22px}} '''[[Al-Qaeda]] and allies:'''</br>

{{flagdecoflagicon image|al-QaedaMNLA_flag.svg|size=22px}} [[AnsarNational al-ShariaMovement (Mauritania)|Ansarfor al-Shariathe Liberation of MauritaniaAzawad]] (2012)<br>

{{flagicon imageflagdeco|MNLA_flag.svgal-Qaeda|size=22px}} [[NationalAnsar Movemental-Sharia for(Mauritania)|Ansar the Liberational-Sharia of AzawadMauritania]] (2012until 2019)

After the end of the 2011 Libyan Civil War, an influx of weaponry led to the arming of the [[Tuareg people|Tuareg]] in their demand for greater autonomy and independence of their homeland in northern Mali, which they called [[Azawad]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201201200939.html |title=Mali: 47 Die in Clashes Between Troops, Rebels&nbsp;– Ministry |publisher=allAfrica.com |date=19 January 2012 |access-date=7 March 2012 |archive-date=23 January 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123082213/http://allafrica.com/stories/201201200939.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In Libya, the Tuareg people largely supported Gaddafi during the war, and Tuareg areas such as [[Ghat, Libya|Ghat]] remain Gaddafi loyalist strongholds.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.libyaherald.com/2013/02/10/ghat-a-former-qaddafi-stronghold-struggles-to-keep-up-with-libyan-revolution/#axzz2lgC1eXQW|title=Ghat: a former Qaddafi stronghold struggles to keep up with Libyan revolution|date=2013-02-09|access-date=2021-01-12|website=The Libya Herald|last=Mzioudet|first=Houda|url-access=limited|archive-date=2021-04-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411044620/https://www.libyaherald.com/2013/02/10/ghat-a-former-qaddafi-stronghold-struggles-to-keep-up-with-libyan-revolution/#axzz2lgC1eXQW|url-status=live}}</ref> Tuareg fighters who fought for GadaffiGaddafi began to return from Libya after war ends, citing discrimination from the new government.<ref name="history">{{cite web |last=Jibrin Ibrahim |url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201203260286.html |title=West Africa: Mali and the Azawad Question |publisher=allAfrica.com |date=26 March 2012 |access-date=2 April 2012 |archive-date=1 January 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130101223307/http://allafrica.com/stories/201203260286.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Since februaryFebruary 2007 the United States and partner nations in the Saharan and Sahel regions of Africa conduct [[Operation Juniper Shield]], consisting of counterterrorism efforts and policing of arms and drug trafficking across central Africa.

In 2022 Russian mercenaries from the [[Wagner Group]] were deployed in Mali,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/malian-foreign-soldiers-believed-killed-110739057.html|title=Malian, foreign soldiers allegedly killed hundreds in town siege -rights group|website=news.yahoo.com|date=5 April 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/apr/05/russian-mercenaries-and-mali-army-accused-of-killing-300-civilians|title=Russian mercenaries and Mali army accused of killing 300 civilians|date=5 April 2022|website=the Guardian}}</ref> as well as soldiers from the Russian regular army{{no source|date=March 2024}}. At the same time, Turkish intervention had intensified{{no source|date=March 2024}}.

* '''January 30''' – Fourteen people were killed, including ten10 soldiers, two volunteer fighters and a civilian, in an attack on a unit in [[Falagountou]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Burkina Faso says 28 soldiers, civilians killed in rebel attacks |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/1/31/burkina-faso-says-28-soldiers-civilians-killed-in-rebel-attacks |access-date=2023-11-11 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref>

**At least fourteenleas14 people, including children, the deputy mayor and a local councillor, were killed after a series of strikes on the town of Kidal perpetrated by the [[Malian Armed Forces]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Presse |first=AFP-Agence France |title=Strikes Kill Six In Key Mali Town Of Kidal: Witnesses |url=https://www.barrons.com/articles/strikes-kill-six-in-key-mali-town-of-kidal-witnesses-a2a5432c |access-date=2023-11-07 |website=barrons.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=14 dead following drone strikes near Malian rebel stronghold {{!}} Fox News |url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/14-dead-drone-strikes-malian-rebel-stronghold.amp |access-date=2023-11-08 |website=foxnews.com}}</ref>

**At'''[[Nondin leastand 170Soro peoplemassacres]]''': wereMembers killedof duringthe attacksBurkina onFaso theArmed villagesForces ofkilled Komsilga,223 Nodin, and Soroecivilians in YatengaNondin province,and Burkina FasoSoro.<ref>{{Cite webnews |date=2024-04-25 |title=AboutBurkina 170Faso peoplearmy killedmassacred in223 Burkinavillagers Fasoin revenge attacksattack, regionalsays official saysHRW |url=https://www.aljazeerabbc.com/news/2024/3/3/aroundworld-170africa-people-executed-in-burkina-faso-attacks-regional-official-says68879696 |access-date=2024-0305-05 |website=Al Jazeera07 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

As a result of the insurgency, the affected countries have been severely destabilized, with the emergence of the [[coup belt]] following several [[coup d'état]]s within the region due to perceived inability to handle the conflict. In [[Mali]] and [[Burkina Faso]], both countries lost significant control of their territory to the Islamists. The conflict has also seen a political shift in the region, with many [[military junta]]s, many having recently overthrown [[US]]- and [[China|Chinese]]-backed governments, allying themselves with the [[Russian government]] and the [[Wagner Group]]. In particular, Mali has seen significant activity of the Wagner Group as the government moved closer to [[Turkey]] and [[Russia]]. Niger saw its government being [[2023 Nigerien coup d'état|overthrown in 2023]] due to poor management of the conflict. In particular, the [[M62 Movement]], a pro-Russian and anti-Imperialist group, supported the coup. Burkina Faso also saw its government being overthrown twice within a year, with coups occurring [[January 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état|in January]] [[September 2022 Burkina Faso coup d'état|and September]], both of which caused by poor management of the conflict against Islamists. As a result of Russian expansion, [[Ukraine]] had funded opposition groups.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Walker |first=Shaun |date=2024-07-29 |title=Ukraine military intelligence claims role in deadly Wagner ambush in Mali |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/29/ukraine-military-intelligence-claims-involvement-in-deadly-wagner-ambush-in-mali |access-date=2024-07-30 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

Although not affected as much, countries nearby like [[Ghana]], [[Benin]], [[Guinea]], [[Togo]] and the [[Ivory Coast]] have been under constant threat of either full-on insurgency or severe destabilization internally. Guinea has already seen [[2021 Guinean coup d'état|a coup d'état]] while [[the Gambia]] has seen turmoil internally. Northern Benin has seen an increase in terrorism attributed to Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin and the Islamic State, with 28 incidents attributed to the groups between 1 November 2021 and 14 September 2022, including the [[W National Park massacre]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brottem |first=Leif |date=2022-09-23 |title=Jihad Takes Root in Northern Benin |url=https://acleddata.com/2022/09/23/jihad-takes-root-in-northern-benin/ |access-date=2024-05-15 |website=ACLED |language=en-US}}</ref>