Exclusive, Voice of the Emirates – The statement issued by the “Zallaqa” Foundation (the media wing of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) has caused a political earthquake in the Sahel region,
not only because of the scale of the announced operations,
but also because of the new strategic language that revealed a roadmap
aimed at “dismantling” the current Malian state and replacing it with a new system.
Coordination with “Azawad”
For the first time, the organization officially acknowledges the participation of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLN) in the capture of strategic cities such as Kidal, Gao, and Mopti.
It asserts that this “genuine coordination”-as the statement describes it-involved the siege of the Malian capital, Bamako,
which began in September 2015, and the burning of fuel trucks last November,
as part of a “serious and sustained effort” to pave the way for the capital’s fall.
The statement further claims that Azawad’s involvement grants al-Qaeda “legitimacy on the ground,”
while al-Qaeda provides Azawad with the “strike force” that shook the Kati military base and the seat of power.
Crossing the red lines
Claiming responsibility for targeting the residences of President Assimi Goïta and his Defense Minister,
Sadio Camara, is a clear declaration of the start of a “leadership purge.”
The organization is no longer content with controlling highways; it has moved to “strike at the head,”
putting the prestige of the Malian military junta at risk and threatening a complete collapse of morale within the army.
The offer directed to Moscow
The most controversial part of the statement is the
offer to “neutralize the Russian side.”
The al-Qaeda-affiliated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) group understands
that continuing the conflict with Wagner is draining its resources, so it has made a pragmatic diplomatic offer.
The statement addresses the Russians, saying, “We will neutralize you in exchange for not targeting you.”
This offer aims to isolate the military junta from its only remaining international ally
and dismantle the Malian-Russian alliance to facilitate a “handover” of power in Bamako.
Taliban model
With this statement, al-Qaeda is approaching the “Afghan model” in the final moments before the fall of Kabul.
Militarily, the group has managed to seize control of the regions of Kidal, Mopti, and Gao.
Politically, it is addressing the Russian side diplomatically, much like the Taliban’s negotiations
with the Americans in Doha, by offering concessions to international powers (Russia) to ensure non-intervention.
Administratively, it is seeking to secure the loyalty of the strongest local forces,
namely the Azawad separatist movement, in order to facilitate the management of the transitional phase.
