The branch of Al Qaeda in the Sahel opens the door to negotiate “within the framework of ‘sharia'” with the military junta

Amadou Koufa denounces the “abuses” committed by Russian mercenaries and says they “far exceed” those “committed by France”

Oct. 23 (EUROPA PRESS) –

Amadou Koufa, one of the main leaders of the terrorist group Support Group for Islam and Muslims (JNIM), has opened the door to a process of negotiations with the military junta of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, as long as the talks ” are framed in ‘sharia'”, given the increase in insecurity in these Sahel countries.

Koufa has indicated in statements to Wassim Nasr, journalist for the France 24 television network, that “the door to negotiations is open for those who want to negotiate within the framework of what is accepted by ‘sharia'”, while at the same time has threatened a possible expansion of the group’s operations in Benin, Ghana and Togo.

The jihadist leader, who heads the Katiba Macina, linked to Ansar Dine, part of JNIM, has also denounced the “abuses” committed by members of the Africa Corps – the former Wagner Group – and has highlighted that “they far exceed those committed by France” when it had troops deployed in these countries.

“This directly contributes to the recruitment of Peuls into the jihadist ranks,” he explained, in reference to the fact that the members of this community are the target of operations by Russian mercenaries and the security forces of these countries due to their alleged ties with the terrorist group. , which increases their marginalization.

Likewise, he has recognized that the truces with the branch of the Islamic State in the area, known as the Sahel Islamic State (EIS), are “mandatory and necessary”, due to the clashes registered in various points by both groups, which compete for territories and the recruitment of new jihadists for their ranks.

JNIM emerged in 2017 as a result of a coalition between Ansar Dine, Al Murabitún and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), which became the branch of Al Qaeda in the region after its leaders swore allegiance to the then leader. of the terrorist organization, Ayman al Zauahiri, killed in July 2022 in a bombing carried out by the United States against a building in the capital of Afghanistan, Kabul.

The United Nations committee in charge of monitoring sanctions against Al Qaeda and the Islamic State warned in July that JNIM poses “the most important threat” in the Sahel due to “the large territory it controls or operates in,” including 5,000 and 6,000 active combatants.

On the other hand, he highlighted that the group led by Iyad ag Ghali continues its expansion, “especially in Burkina Faso, but also significantly in Mali and Niger”, amid fear of possible expansion towards countries located in the Gulf. of Guinea, including an increase in attacks in northern Togo.