Reorganization of Jihadist Groups in Maghreb and Sahel

Islamic State Reaches Much Farther Than SyriaThe Declaration of the Caliphate by Islamic State (ISIS) raises growing concerns about jihadist expansion all over the world, but especially in the Maghreb, Sahel and Syria. Although France’s Operation Serval was successful in eliminating key figures within al Qaeda in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and local katibas, including Abu Zeid and Abdallah Shanqiti. In spite of these setbacks, jihadist movements in Maghreb, particularly with AQIM, have recovered by restoring their operational structures and rejuvenating alliances with other groups. Even after Abu al-Hammam, the appointed emir of AQIM Sahara, left the violent battlefield to focus on theological and spiritual conditions over the jihadist movement, he was easily replaced.[1]  Map (above): March 2014 Critical Threats Project map of AQIM http://www.criticalthreats.org/al-qaeda/hagen-aqim-leaders-and-networks-march-27-2014For More on Policy Making Within…