Al Qaeda-Linked Malian Group Promises to Attack Nigeria

A Malian jihadist group has promised to attack Nigeria and other West African countries involved in raising a regional force against the jihadist insurrection in Northern Mali. The group, known as Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), has threatened to attack the interests of countries that would join a military intervention force in Mali.

As is always the case with Nigeria – playing “big brother” on the continent – Nigeria is leading other Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) countries to raise a 3,270 intervention force to rid Northern Mali of a regime of the religious extremists and reunite the country.

Thew MUJAO has warned that its branches “in several countries are ready to strike the interests of countries that intend to participate in the force of ECOWAS,” spokesman, Adnan Abu Walid Sahraoui, said in a written message. In the statement, sent to an AFP correspondent in the Malian capital, Bamako, he states “the MUJAO is committed to providing all kinds of material and military support for young Muslims determined to raise the banner of Islam. The scene today is open for jihadists,”

Meanwhile, West African leaders who gathered Friday in Yamoussoukro called on the United Nations (UN) Security Council to speed up the adoption of a resolution authorising the regional force.

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