APA – Bamako (Mali) – Al-Qaeda’s Sahel affiliate confirmed the move on Monday 11 March.
Houssein Gholam, a former colonel in the Malian National Guard and commander of operations for the Permanent Strategic Framework (PSF), recently announced joining the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (GSIM).
The news was confirmed by the group, which represents al-Qaeda’s Sahel branch.
In an official statement issued on Monday, the GSIM welcomed Colonel Gholam’s decision to join their ranks, stressing that he would “bring valuable military expertise and experience to their organisation”.
Before joining the GNIM, Gholam was a military leader of the Arab Movement of Azawad (MAA), one of the three rebel factions of the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA).
It was mainly responsible for the Ber sector, some sixty kilometres north-east of Timbuktu on the road to the Algerian border.
The United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) had a base in the area, which was handed over to the Malian army in mid-August.
Colonel Gholam had announced resigning from the CMA before backing down.
This situation comes at a time when Mali’s transitional authorities have consistently denounced collusion between the rebels and jihadist groups.
In November 2023, Bamako launched legal proceedings against leaders of the rebellion and jihadist movements.
MD/ac/lb/as/APA