“The group that claimed responsibility for the killing of four US and four Nigerian soldiers in Western Niger last October is led by Polisario member Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, a well-known figure in regional jihadist circles,” the voice of America reported. In 2015, Al-Sahrawi issued a bay’a, or pledge of allegiance, to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the overall leader of the Islamic State militant network. According to Zenn, al-Sahrawi still has connections to many of the AQIM sub-groups in Mali because of his experiences. Morocco has been warning of an ongoing connivance between Polisario and terrorist groups in the Sahel. The disenchanted youth in the Polisairo-run camps are lured by the lucrative activities offered by terrorist networks that also engage in trafficking and criminal activities.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 12, 2018 13:41 UTC