It has been linked with Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) because its leader Iyad Ag Ghaly is the cousin of AQIM commander Hamada Ag Hama. Background: Institute for the Study of Violent Groups Background: U.S. Department of State. Three such groups are notable terrorist organizations: al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Ansar Dine and the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa, known commonly as MUJAO. In the same year he was appointed by Malian President Amadou Toumani Touré as a diplomat at the country’s consulate in Saudi Arabia, though he was recalled from the country 3 years after for links to radical islamists.Unlike the MNLA whose goal is an autonomy of northern Mali and direct control of the territory, Ansar Dine, along with the other jihadist groups, were ousted by the French military operation Serval in January 2013, when the United Nations deployed a 11,000-strong peacekeeping force, though as ESISC previously reported, this withdrawal was largely considered as a tactical move rather than a sign of total defeat of the organization and Iyad Ag Ghaly remained an important figure in northern Mali’s political landscape. You can try TRAC for 7 days with this trial. Designated as terrorist by: United Nations, United States.

A   The United States has declared Ansar Dine a terrorist organization and placed it on a black list.

Prosecutors at the International Criminal Court, which opened the trial on Tuesday, say the Ansar Dine terrorist group that al-Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz belonged to control every aspect of public life in Timbuktu after seizing part of the north of … Changing alliances between different groups make it difficult to estimate the number of their followers. But while the MNLA's goal was direct control of the territory and in negotiations repeatedly called for the autonomy of northern Mali, Ansar Dine, the self-proclaimed "defenders of the faith" were more concerned with imposing Islamic law. In early July, Ansar Dine destroyed seven mausoleums in Timbuktu which were part of the UN World Heritage. TRAC is a subscription-based service. To recall, Ansar Dine was strongly against the peace process and accused separatists of “betraying the local population”.To enhance further its legitimacy, Ansar Dine created his own media arm called “Rimaah” to publish its statements and claim responsibility for the attacks. Their primary operations are against the Mali military and opposing rebel groups. Many residents are still coming to terms with their experiences. Ansar Dine is a paramilitary terrorist group of insurgents based in Northern Mali but operating throughout the country to impose Sharia law. Some observers also suggest it was then that Ghaly, with the approval of the Algerian security apparatus which was seeking a dialogue partner amongst the Malian rebels, founded Ansar Dine. What distinguishes Ansar Dine from other Tuareg militias is its religious orientation. Ansaru's exact origin is unclear, but it is known that the group emerged as a faction of Boko Haram, an extremist Islamist movement that launched an uprising against the Nigerian government in 2009. (22.03.2013) Ansar Dine, translated as “Defenders of the Faith,” was a Salafi-Jihadist group founded in December 2011 by Tuareg militant Iyad Ag Ghali.

The Ansar Dine militia was founded in 2012 around charismatic leader Iyad Ag Ghaly, a respected Tuareg from the Ifoghas ethnic group. If you choose to subscribe at the end of the trial, the trial cost will be deducted from the price of your subscription.TRAC is a unique, comprehensive resource for the study of political violence of all kinds.Ansar Dine - Mali, also known as Defenders of Faith, Ansar Eddine, Ansar Din, Ansar al-Din al-Salafiya, Salafist Warriors of Religion, Transitional Council of the Islamic State of Azawad, Ansar al-Din is an active group formed c. 2012.   France is backing Mali in the fight against Islamist rebels. Its leader Iyad Ag Ghaly, however, still retains some influence.Three months after French forces liberated Timbuktu from Ansar Dine Islamists, life in the historic city is still not as it was. It also increasingly uses social media, namely Twitter, issuing propaganda videos and statements as other jihadist groups do, including AQIM which remains a primary regional security treat in the country. Earlier this month, Ansar Dine, al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb’s Sahara branch, Al Murabitoon, and Katibat Macina (also known as the Macina Liberation Front) merged to form Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (the “Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims”). Please make sure to include your name and your country.