Ansarul Islam (Sahel)

Ansarul Islam
LeadersIbrahim Malam Dicko (2016–2017)
Abdoul Salam Dicko (2017–Present)[1]
Dates of operationDecember 2016 (2016)–present[2]
Ideology
Size300–350[3]
Allies Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin[2]
OpponentsState opponents
Battles and warsMali War, Jihadist insurgency in Burkina Faso, and the Global War on Terrorism

Ansarul Islam is a militant Islamist group active in Burkina Faso and in Mali. It was founded by Boureima Dicko, also known as Ibrahim Malam Dicko, and it is the first native Jihadi group in Burkina Faso. The group cooperates closely with Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM).[4]

History

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The group announced its existence in December 2016 in a statement claiming responsibility for an attack in Nassoumbou.[5] It was founded and led by Ibrahim Malam Dicko until his death in May 2017 from natural causes.[4]

The group has claimed responsibility for several attacks. These include the attack on two police stations in Tongomayel and Baraboulé in February 2017[6] and the attack at a village in Soum in March 2017.[7]

On 30 October 2020, about fifty jihadists on motorcycles belonging to the Ansar ul Islam group were killed by the French Army in Mali, near the border with Burkina Faso. Weapons and equipment were also seized.[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Burkina Faso wanted list details Ansaroul Islam network". Long War Journal. 24 June 2018. Retrieved 12 September 2018.
  2. ^ a b "Un nouveau mouvement djihadiste est né au Burkina Faso". Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  3. ^ "UN report indicates al-Qaeda and ISIS enjoy safe haven in Turkish-controlled Idlib". Nordic Monitor. 9 February 2022. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b University, © Stanford; Stanford; California 94305. "MMP: Ansaroul Islam". cisac.fsi.stanford.edu. Retrieved 2022-07-04.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ "Un groupe jihadiste tente de s'implanter au Burkina Faso - RFI". 10 February 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  6. ^ "Jihadists attack north Burkina Faso towns amid film festival". ABC News. 27 February 2017. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  7. ^ "Two dead in Burkina Faso 'jihadist' attack". 3 March 2017. Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  8. ^ "Au Mali, l'armée française tue plus de 50 jihadistes près de la frontière burkinabè". France 24 (in French). 2020-11-02. Retrieved 2020-11-03.