Narrative
Narrative of the Organization's History
Narrative of the Organization's History
Leadership, Name Changes, Size Estimates, Resources, Geographic Locations
Ideology, Aims, Political Activities, Targets, and Tactics
First Attacks, Largest Attacks, Notable Attacks
Foreign Designations and Listings, Community Relations, Relations with Other Groups, State Sponsors and External Influences
Mapping relationships with other militant groups over time in regional maps
Al Mourabitoun was a Salafi-Jihadist militant organization that aimed to establish Shariah law in North Africa. Additionally, Al Mourabitoun aimed to unite Islamic movements in the region against secular influences by carrying out attacks against western citizens and institutions. The organization’s name refers to the Almoravid dynasty in North African history, whose leadership focused on the search for Muslim unity and the fight against external enemies.[32] Al Mourabitoun sought particularly to secure the freedom of those in northern Mali who were “oppressed” by the French government in the region.[33] The group’s ideology and goals were similar to those of Al Qaeda and its regional affiliate, Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.[34]
There are no recorded political activities for this group.
Al Mourabitoun primarily targeted the Malian military, foreign nationals, the UN Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), and the citizens and military forces of nations who assisted in the French military intervention in Mali in January 2013. Al Mourabitoun has conducted car bombings, armed attacks, and kidnappings.[35]
Disclaimer: These are some selected major attacks in the militant organization's history. It is not a comprehensive listing but captures some of the most famous attacks or turning points during the campaign.
November 2013: Al Mourabitoun used an IED to attack a Malian army vehicle near Asongo and Menaka, Mali (4 killed, unknown wounded).[36]
December 14, 2013: Al Mourabitoun bombed the Bank of Solidarity in Kidal, Mali, using a car saddled with explosives, killing UN peacekeepers, MINUSMA troops and Malian soldiers (3 killed, 7+ wounded).[37]
February 8, 2014: Al Mourabitoun kidnapped five Red Cross workers from a car in Tabancourt, Mali; the hostages were not rescued until April. This was part of a larger campaign of attacks in February against military and civilian targets (0 killed, 2 wounded).[38]
July 14, 2014: Al Mourabitoun detonated explosives on a vehicle near French military targets in Almostarat, Mali (2 killed, 7 wounded).[39]
January 26, 2015: Al Mourabitoun attempted to assassinate a Malian military officer, General Mohamed Abderrahmane Ould Meydou in Bamako, Mali (0 killed, 1 wounded).[40]
March 7, 2015: Al Mourabitoun attacked La Terasse Nightclub in Bamako, Mali with grenades and guns to avenge Telemsi’s death (5 killed, 8+ wounded).[41]
April 4, 2015: Al Mourabitoun fighters opened fire on a manganese mine in Tambao, Burkina Faso and took a Romanian security guard hostage (unknown killed, 2 wounded).[42]
April 15, 2015: A suicide bomber from Al Mourabitoun detonated a car full of explosives at a United Nations Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) camp in Ansongo, Mali, injuring civilians and 9 Nigerien peacekeepers (4 killed, 16 wounded).[43]
August 7, 2015: Militants from Al Mourabitoun occupied the Byblos Hotel in Sevare, Mali, taking hostages, who were later released when Malian security forces counter attacked (13+ killed, 2 wounded).[44]
November 11, 2015: Al Mourabitoun fighters, allegedly in cooperation with AQIM, opened fire in the Raddison Blu Hotel in Bamako, Mali and took 170 people hostage, who were rescued later in the day, and demanded the return of detainees held in France (22 killed, 2 wounded).[45]
January 15, 2016: Al Mourabitoun gunmen, working with AQIM, seized the Splendid Hotel in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, firing on local businesses and taking over 200 hostages. The Burkinabe military, aided by French troops, freed 126 hostages in a counterassault (29 killed, 56 wounded).[46]
January 18, 2017: Al Mourabitoun agents conducted a suicide car bombing at a Malian military base outside Gao, housing Malian soldiers and rival armed groups (60+ killed, 115 wounded).[47]
Al Mourabitoun leader Belmokhtar, also known as “Mr. Marlboro” for his illegal cigarette business, built lucrative smuggling routes throughout the Sahel in the early 2000s. This was made possible by of his family ties to the local tribes in Mali, allegedly formed through his marriages to four women from local Arab and Tuareg communities.[55]
Mokhtar Belmokhtar, co-founder of Al Mourabitoun, was a former commander of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, the North African affiliate of Al Qaeda. Al Mourabitoun formed as a merger between the Al Mulathamun Battalion and the Mouvement pour l’Unification et le Jihad en Afrique de l’Ouest (MUJAO), both of which were splinter groups of AQIM. The two groups merged in order to consolidate efforts to establish Shariah law in North Africa and free those in northern Mali from external influences. The organization preserved contact with many AQIM leaders, including Yahia Djouadi and Djamel Akkacha, the coordinator for AQIM-affiliated groups in northern Mali.[56]
On June 2, 2014, the UN added Al Mourabitoun to its list of AQ-associated individuals and entities. Al Mourabitoun declared its allegiance to Al Qaeda on July 21, 2015, when it published an online statement declaring AQ-affiliated Belmokhtar as its new leader. After Al Mourabitoun and AQIM launched their first joint attack, on the Raddison Blu Hotel in November 2015, AQIM leader Abdelmalek Droukdel announced Al Mourabitoun’s official merger with AQIM.[57]
In May 2015, self-proclaimed emir Sahrawi released a message swearing Al Mourabitoun’s allegiance to the Islamic State. A few days later, Belmokhtar rejected Sahrawi’s pledge and reaffirmed the organization’s allegiance to Al Qaeda. IS did not officially accept Sahrawi’s pledge until October 2016.[58]
Al Mourabitoun and the Sahara branch of AQIM joined with Ansar al-Dine into the unified organization, Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen on March 2, 2017.[59]
There are no publicly available external influences for this group.
[1] "Al-Murabitun." Australian National Security, 5 Nov. 2014. Web. 18 July 2016.
[2] "Al-Qaeda affiliate claims Mali car bomb attack in Gao." BBC News, 18 Jan. 2017. Web. 25 June 2018.
[3] "Al-Murabitun." Australian National Security, 5 Nov. 2014. Web. 18 July 2016; "Belmokhtar’s militants 'merge' with Mali’s Mujao." BBC News, 22 Aug. 2013. Web. 27 June 2018.
[4] Cristiani, Dario. "Al-Murabitun: North Africa's Jihadists Reach into History in Their Battle against European." The Jamestown Foundation, 17 Oct. 2013. Web. 20 July 2016.
[5] Ely Ould Maghlah, "Terrorisme: les ‘Mourabitoune’ de l’Azawad menacent de s’en prendre à la France et ses alliés," Agence Nouakchott d’Information, 4 January 2014.
[6] "Belmokhtar's Militants 'merge' with Mali's Mujao." BBC News, 22 Aug. 2013. Web. 21 July 2016.
[7] "Profile: Al-Murabitoun." BBC News, 16 Jan. 2016. Web. 18 July 2016.
[8] Muratet, Christine. "Mali: Qui Sont Les Nouveaux Chefs Des Katibas Jihadistes?" RFI Afrique, 14 May 2014. Web. 19 July 2016; "Profile: Al-Mourabitoun." BBC News. 16 Jan. 2016. Web. 18 July 2016.
[9] "Group Linked to Al Qaeda Says Responsible for Mali Siege: Al Jazeera." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 10 Aug. 2015. Web. 22 July 2016; Cristiani, Dario. "Al-Murabitun: North Africa's Jihadists Reach into History in Their Battle against European." The Jamestown Foundation, 17 Oct. 2013. Web. 20 July 2016.
[10] "Terrorist Designation of the Al-Mulathamun Battalion." U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, 18 Dec. 2013. Web. 21 July 2016.
[11] "Mali's Red Cross Fears for Missing Staff." BBC News, 11 Feb. 2014. Web. 23 June 2016.
[12] Muratet, Christine. "Mali: Qui Sont Les Nouveaux Chefs Des Katibas Jihadistes?” RFI Afrique, 14 May 2014. Web. 19 July 2016.
[13] "Movement for the Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO)." Terrorism Research & Analysis Consortium. Web. 23 June 2016; "Mali Crisis: Key Players." BBC News, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 28 June 2016; Roggio, Bill, and Caleb Weiss. "French Troops Kill MUJAO Founder during Raid in Mali." The Long War Journal, 11 Dec. 2014. Web. 24 June 2016.
[14] Nossiter, Adam. "Gunman Kills Five in Restaurant in Mali." The New York Times. The New York Times, 07 Mar. 2015. Web. 19 July 2016.
[15] Lyammouri, Rida. "Key Events That Led to Tensions Between Mokhtar Belmokhtar and Adnan Abu Walid Al-Sahrawi Before Splitting." Maghreb and Sahel. Wordpress, 07 Dec. 2015. Web. 21 July 2016.
[16] Lyammouri, Rida. "Key Events That Led to Tensions Between Mokhtar Belmokhtar and Adnan Abu Walid Al-Sahrawi Before Splitting." Maghreb and Sahel. Wordpress, 07 Dec. 2015. Web. 21 July 2016.
[17] Joscelyn, Thomas and Caleb Weiss. "Islamic State recognizes oath of allegiance from jihadists in Mali." The Long War Journal, 31 Oct. 2016. Web. 27 June 2018; Mellgard, Emily. "Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO)." Tony Blair Faith Foundation, n.d. Web. 28 June 2016; Lebovich, Andrew. "The Hotel Attacks and Militant Realignment in the Sahara-Sahel Region | Combating Terrorism Center at West Point." Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, 19 Jan. 2016. Web. 18 July 2016.
[18] National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). (2016). Global Terrorism Database [Data file]. Retrieved from https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd; Lebovich, Andrew. "The Hotel Attacks and Militant Realignment in the Sahara-Sahel Region | Combating Terrorism Center at West Point." Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, 19 Jan. 2016. Web. 18 July 2016.
[19] Desk, JWMG. "The Unification between the Al-Mourabitoun Organization and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb." International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, 23 Dec. 2015. Web. 19 July 2016; The Associated Press. "Mali: Group Merges With Al Qaeda." The New York Times. The New York Times, 04 Dec. 2015. Web. 21 July 2016.
[20] Barak, Michael. "Signs of a Change in Strategy for AQIM." International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, 5 Jan. 2016. Web. 19 July 2016.
[21] Muratet, Christine. "Mali: Qui Sont Les Nouveaux Chefs Des Katibas Jihadistes?" RFI Afrique, 14 May 2014. Web. 19 July 2016; "Profile: Al-Murabitoun." BBC News. BBC News. 16 Jan. 2016. Web. 18 July 2016.
[22] "Mali Crisis: Key Players." BBC News, 13 Mar. 2013. Web. 28 June 2016; Roggio, Bill, and Caleb Weiss. "French Troops Kill MUJAO Founder during Raid in Mali | The Long War Journal; Roggio, Bill. "US Adds West African Group, 2 Leaders, to Terrorism List | The Long War Journal." The Long War Journal, 7 Dec. 2012. Web. 24 June 2016; "ISIL (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List." United Nations Security Council Subsidiary Organs, 24 June 2016. Web.
[23] Gollom, Mark. "Mokhtar Belmokhtar, Al-Qaeda's Man in the Sahara?" CBCnews. CBC/Radio Canada, 18 Jan. 2013. Web. 08 July 2016; Morgan, Andy. "Mr. Marlboro Lands a Seismic Blow." The Independent. Independent Digital News and Media, 19 Jan. 2013. Web. 08 July 2016.
[24] Black, Ian. "Mali Militants: Who's Who among Islamist Rebels." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 16 Jan. 2013. Web. 07 July 2016.
[25] "Profile: Al-Murabitoun." BBC News. BBC News. 16 Jan. 2016. Web. 18 July 2016.
[26] Schmitt, Eric. "U.S. Airstrike in Libya Targets Planner of 2013 Algeria Attack." The New York Times. The New York Times, 14 June 2015. Web. 06 July 2016.
[27] Joscelyn, Thomas. "Confusion Surrounds West African Jihadists’ Loyalty to Islamic State | The Long War Journal." The Long War Journal, 14 May 2014. Web. 28 June 2016; Mellgard, Emily. "Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO)." Tony Blair Faith Foundation, n.d. Web. 28 June 2016.
[28] Muratet, Christine. "Mali: Qui Sont Les Nouveaux Chefs Des Katibas Jihadistes?" RFI Afrique, 14 May 2014. Web. 19 July 2016.
[29] Bureau of Counterterrorism. "Country Reports on Terrorism 2013." United States Department of State, Apr. 2014. Web. 21 July 2016; "Refworld | Country Reports on Terrorism 2013 - Foreign Terrorist Organizations: Al-Mulathamun Battalion." Refworld. The UN Refugee Agency, 30 Apr. 2014. Web. 06 July 2016; "Al-Mourabitoun." Counter Extremism Project, n.d. Web. 21 July 2016.
[30] Laub, Zachary and Jonathan Masters. "Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)." Council on Foreign Relations, 27 March 2015. Web. 21 Oct. 2015; "Profile: Mokhtar Belmokhtar." BBC News, 15 June 2015. Web. 13 July 2016.
[31] "Who Is the Terror Group behind the Mali Hotel Attack?" ABC News, 20 Nov. 2015. Web. 18 July 2016; Weiss, Caleb. "Al Murabitoon Shows Romanian Hostage in New Video." The Long War Journal, 2 Sept. 2015. Web. 19 July 2016; National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). (2016). Global Terrorism Database [Data file]. Retrieved from https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd.
[32] Cristiani, Dario. "Al-Murabitun: North Africa's Jihadists Reach into History in Their Battle against European." The Jamestown Foundation, 17 Oct. 2013. Web. 20 July 2016.
[33] Ely Ould Maghlah, "Terrorisme: les ‘Mourabitoune’ de l’Azawad menacent de s’en prendre à la France et ses alliés," Agence Nouakchott d’Information, 4 January 2014.
[34] Cristiani, Dario. "Al-Murabitun: North Africa's Jihadists Reach into History in Their Battle against European." The Jamestown Foundation, 17 Oct. 2013. Web. 20 July 2016.
[35] "Al-Murabitun." Australian National Security, 5 Nov. 2014. Web. 18 July 2016; National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). (2016). Global Terrorism Database [Data file]. Retrieved from https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd; "Country Reports on Terrorism 2013: Chapter 6: Foreign Terrorist Organizations," U.S. Department of State, April 2014, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/225886.pdf; Weiss, Caleb. "Al Murabitoon Claims Ansongo Suicide Attack | The Long War Journal." The Long War Journal, 17 Apr. 2015. Web. 19 July 2016; "Refworld | Country Reports on Terrorism 2013 - Foreign Terrorist Organizations: Al-Mulathamun Battalion." Refworld. The UN Refugee Agency, 30 Apr. 2014. Web. 06 July 2016.
[36] "Al-Murabitun." Australian National Security, 5 Nov. 2014. Web. 18 July 2016.
[37] National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). (2016). Global Terrorism Database [Data file]. Retrieved from https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd; "Country Reports on Terrorism 2013: Chapter 6: Foreign Terrorist Organizations," U.S. Department of State, April 2014, http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/225886.pdf.
[38] "Mali's Red Cross Fears for Missing Staff." BBC News, 11 Feb. 2014. Web. 23 June 2016.
[39] National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). (2016). Global Terrorism Database [Data file]. Retrieved from https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd.
[40] National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). (2016). Global Terrorism Database [Data file]. Retrieved from https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd; Weiss, Caleb. "Al Murabitoon Shows Romanian Hostage in New Video." The Long War Journal, 2 Sept. 2015. Web. 19 July 2016.
[41] Nossiter, Adam. "Gunman Kills Five in Restaurant in Mali." The New York Times. The New York Times, 07 Mar. 2015. Web. 19 July 2016.
[42] National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). (2016). Global Terrorism Database [Data file]. Retrieved from https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd; Weiss, Caleb. "Al Murabitoon Shows Romanian Hostage in New Video." The Long War Journal, 2 Sept. 2015. Web. 19 July 2016
[43] National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). (2016). Global Terrorism Database [Data file]. Retrieved from https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd; Weiss, Caleb. "Al Murabitoon Claims Ansongo Suicide Attack | The Long War Journal." The Long War Journal, 17 Apr. 2015. Web. 19 July 2016.
[44] National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). (2016). Global Terrorism Database [Data file]. Retrieved from https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd; "Al Qaeda-linked Group Claims Mali Hotel Siege." France 24, 11 Aug. 2015. Web. 19 July 2016; "Refworld | Country Reports on Terrorism 2013 - Foreign Terrorist Organizations: Al-Mulathamun Battalion." Refworld. The UN Refugee Agency, 30 Apr. 2014. Web. 06 July 2016.
[45] National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). (2016). Global Terrorism Database [Data file]. Retrieved from https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd.
[46] Karimi, Faith and Sandra Betsis. "Burkina Faso attack: At least 29 dead, scores freed after hotel siege." CNN, 18 Jan. 2016. Web. 25 June 2018.
[47] "Al-Qaeda affiliate claims Mali car bomb attack in Gao." BBC News, 18 Jan. 2017. Web. 25 June 2018.
[48] "Terrorist Designation of the Al-Mulathamun Battalion." U.S. Department of State. U.S. Department of State, 18 Dec. 2013. Web. 21 July 2016.
[49] "Al-Murabitun." Australian National Security, 5 Nov. 2014. Web. 18 July 2016.
[50] "Government bans three alleged terrorist groups." BBC Democracy Live, 2 April 2014. Web. 26 June 2018.
[51] Government of Canada. "Currently listed entities." Public Safety Canada, 15 Feb. 2018. Web. 26 June 2018.
[52] "Designated individuals and organizations." New Zealand Police, n.d. Web. 26 June 2018.
[53] "Proscribed Terrorist Organisations." UK Home Office, 22 Dec. 2017. Web. 26 June 2018.
[54] "Al-Murabitun." Australian National Security, 5 Nov. 2014. Web. 18 July 2016.
[55] Laub, Zachary and Jonathan Masters. "Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)." Council on Foreign Relations, 27 March 2015. Web. 21 Oct. 2015; "Profile: Mokhtar Belmokhtar." BBC News, 15 June 2015. Web. 13 July 2016.
[56] "Group Linked to Al Qaeda Says Responsible for Mali Siege: Al Jazeera." Reuters. Thomson Reuters, 10 Aug. 2015. Web. 22 July 2016.
[57] Cristiani, Dario. "Al-Murabitun: North Africa's Jihadists Reach into History in Their Battle against European." The Jamestown Foundation, 17 Oct. 2013. Web. 20 July 2016; National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). (2016). Global Terrorism Database [Data file]. Retrieved from https://www.start.umd.edu/gtd; Lebovich, Andrew. "The Hotel Attacks and Militant Realignment in the Sahara-Sahel Region | Combating Terrorism Center at West Point." Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, 19 Jan. 2016. Web. 18 July 2016; Desk, JWMG. "The Unification between the Al-Mourabitoun Organization and Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb." International Institute for Counter-Terrorism, 23 Dec. 2015. Web. 19 July 2016; The Associated Press. "Mali: Group Merges With Al Qaeda." The New York Times. The New York Times, 04 Dec. 2015. Web. 21 July 2016.
[58] Joscelyn, Thomas and Caleb Weiss. "Islamic State recognizes oath of allegiance from jihadists in Mali | The Long War Journal." The Long War Journal, 31 Oct. 2016. Web. 27 June 2018; Mellgard, Emily. "Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO)." Tony Blair Faith Foundation, n.d. Web. 28 June 2016; Lebovich, Andrew. "The Hotel Attacks and Militant Realignment in the Sahara-Sahel Region | Combating Terrorism Center at West Point." Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, 19 Jan. 2016. Web. 18 July 2016.
[59] "Challenges in Countering Terrorism in Libya." UN Counter Terrorism Committee, Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, Libya Sanctions Committee, 27 June 2017. Web. 26 June 2018.