Al-Murabitun, also known as The Sentinels, is a militant group formed from the merger of the al-Mulathamun Battalion and Tawhid Wal Jihad in West Africa (TWJWA) in August 2013. Led by veteran extremist Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the group aims to unite Muslims across North and West Africa in jihad against Westerners and to liberate Mali from French influence.
The origins of Al-Murabitun trace back to its constituent groups, both of which are offshoots of al-Qa‘ida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Al-Mulathamun Battalion, led by Belmokhtar, split from AQIM in 2012 due to leadership disputes, while TWJWA, also known as the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), emerged as an offshoot of AQIM in late 2011.
Al-Murabitun has conducted numerous attacks targeting Western interests in North and West Africa. One of the most notorious incidents was the January 2013 attack on the I-n-Amenas gas facility in Algeria, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 40 Westerners, including three Americans. The group has also targeted French and African forces, particularly in Mali, using tactics such as suicide bombings, vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices, and landmines.
Despite internal disputes and French counterterrorism operations that have eliminated several of its leaders and members, Al-Murabitun remains active and dangerous. In March 2015, the group carried out its first attack in Bamako, Mali, targeting a nightclub and resulting in the deaths of two Westerners and three Malian nationals. Additionally, in May 2015, Al-Murabitun claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of a Romanian citizen in Burkina Faso.
The group’s leader, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, has a long history of militancy and insurgency. He fought alongside mujahidin in Afghanistan as a teenager, trained with al-Qa‘ida, and later joined various militant factions in Algeria. Belmokhtar’s leadership of Al-Murabitun has cemented his reputation as a prominent figure in the jihadist movement in North and West Africa.
Al-Murabitun takes its name from the medieval Almoravid dynasty, also known as the Almoravids, which ruled parts of northwest Africa and southern Spain in the 11th century. The Almoravids were known for their strict adherence to Islamic law and their military prowess, traits that Al-Murabitun seeks to emulate in its contemporary jihadist struggle.
Al-Murabitun poses a significant security threat in North and West Africa, perpetuating violence and instability in the region while espousing jihadist ideology and seeking to challenge Western influence. Despite efforts to dismantle the group, its resilience and adaptability continue to fuel concerns among regional and international stakeholders.
