This dyad belongs to the conflict Mauritania: Government
Summary of conflict Mauritania: Government
The conflict between the Government of Mauritania and AQIM (Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb) was a consequence of the expansion of AQIM's activities from Algeria across various parts of the Sahara, as the group began operating in Mali, Mauritania and Niger. The stated goal of AQIM with regards to Mauritania is to overthrow the military regime in power since 2008, and replace it with an Islamic state, eventually to be part of a wider, Maghrebian caliphate. Most of AQIMs operations involved kidnappings (mainly for ransom), suicide attacks and small-scale skirmishes from bases in the Saharan desert. The conflict had a substantial regional dimension as the governments of Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Niger collaborated substantially in fighting AQIM through joint operations and various forms of partnerships including a joint military command. Further, the United States and France participated through various counter-terrorism initiatives. The conflict ended by low activity in 2012 as, on one hand, AQIM forces were more preoccupied with the events in Mali, and, on the other hand, the Government of Mauritania introduced a strategy of stronger border control to negate AQIM access to the country.
AQIM in Mauritania - regionalization of conflict, kidnappings and French involvement
The conflict between AQIM (Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb) and the Government of Mauritania was the result of AQIMs regionalization of activities across the Saharan region (Algeria, Mali, Niger, Mauritania), with a stated goal of overthrowing the current regimes and establishing an Islamic Maghrebian caliphate. AQIM, originally Algerian in nature, established, starting in 2007, bases of operation across the remote Saharan areas of Mali, Mauritania and Niger, conducting various operations throughout the region.
Most of AQIM operations involved abductions of various mainly Western European employees of multi-national corporations and aid organisations active in the area. Abductions for ransom and extortions account for most of the groups funding.
The fight against AQIM was an international effort of all the governments in which AQIM was operating (Algeria, Niger, Mali and Mauritania). As part of this cooperation, various inter-governmental defence structures had been put in place. Furthermore, permission to carry various actions against AQIM by one governments military on anothers territory was frequent - both Algerian and Mauritanian forces was allowed access into Mali. The United States and France supported the fight against AQIM through various initiatives, such as the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Initiative/Partnership (TSCI/TSCP).
The first statement of incompatibility between AQIM and the Government of Mauritania came on 12 August 2008, in the wake of a military coup. This statement was issued by Abu Musab Abd el-Wadoud (a.k.a. Abdel Malik Droukdal), emir and leader of AQIM and called for the overthrowing of the new military regime, considered by the group to be anti-Islamic. Throughout 2008 and 2009, however, AQIMs activities with regards to Mauritania were relatively low-key.
On 22 June 2010, the Mauritanian military attacked AQIM in neighbouring Mali, in what was officially claimed to be a pre-emptive strike attempting to deter a suspected AQIM attack on strategic Mauritanian interests. French troops took part in the operation with a goal of releasing Michel Germaneau, a French aid worker taken captive by AQIM in Niger and held in Mali. While Mauritanian officials labelled the operation a success, as an AQIM base was destroyed, Germaneau was not released, being later executed in retaliation for the attack. In the wake of Germaneaus death, French officials, including prime-minister François Fillon declared that France was at war with AQIM, pledging increased collaboration with the Mauritanian government.
Further, on 21 April 2010, Algeria, Mali, Niger and Mauritania joined forces in creating a unified military command to counter AQIMs operations in the Sahel-Saharan region. Known as the Joint Operational Staff Committee, one of its stated goals were joint military operations against AQIM, as well as explicit access for armed forces of participating countries throughout the four participating as part of actions combating AQIM.
As a result of these events, Mauritania conducted another operation against AQIM in Mali in September 2010, this time with a higher intensity, leading to over 20 deaths. 2011 started with a number of failed AQIM attacks deep inside Mauritanian territory. Apparent targets included Mauritanias acting president, Ould Abdel Aziz, the French embassy in Nouakchott, Mauritanias defense ministry, as well as a number of Mauritanian military assets such as the barracks of Bassiknou. While none of these attacks ended with any success for AQIM, they did trigger substantial retaliation from the Mauritanian army. As such, in June and November 2011, a series of actions conducted by the Mauritanian army in the Wagadou area (100 km inside Mali) destroyed an important AQIM stronghold, killing Ould Sidi Aly, an important regional leader of the organization.
No significant activity took place in Mauritania after 2012, as, on one hand, AQIM rebels were involved in taking over and then rule various areas of Mali, while on the other hand, the events in Mali drove the Mauritanian government to establish a strategy of increasing border security.
