Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso have recently signed a defense pact known as the Alliance of Sahel States. The three countries have agreed to help each other against any threats of external aggression or armed rebellion. “Our fight is against terrorism” says Abdoulaye Diop, Mali’s Defense Minster.
Al Qaeda in the Sahel seeks to force its extreme and violent ideology on the majority Muslim nations of West Africa. The countries of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso have freed themselves from their colonialist rulers, now they are fighting against the terrorists.
In Mali, Tuareg separatist groups in alliance with Al Qaeda backed fighters from Niger, Algeria, and Libya have vowed to take over the entire northern part of Mali and establish their brutal interpretation of Islamic law. In 2012, Timbuktu, Mali was occupied by Tuareg rebels and Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda’s Salafi and Wahabi based interpretation of Islam mandated the desecration and destruction of hundreds of centuries old tombs and shrines of Muslim saints and scholars who are revered by Muslims throughout the region and throughout the world.
French military forces proved to be ineffective in stopping the Al Qaeda terrorist threats. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have asked the French military forces to leave their countries. Russia’s Wagner Military Group has a presence on the ground to help stabilize the region and defend against the terrorist threats.
Al Qaeda, ISIS and like-minded misguided ideologies oppose those Muslims who show deep love and affection for Allah and the Holy Last Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) accusing them of false worship. The Muslim creed is “There is no god except Allah and Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger,” which negates any idea of false worship.
Timbuktu, once hailed as a world-leading seat of Islamic learning and scholarship, still maintains the archives of original manuscripts such as the famous Dalailul Khairat. A compilation of salawat or sending blessing upon the Holy Last Messenger, Syedena Muhammad Mustafa (peace and blessing be upon him) written by Imam Muhammad bin Sulayman Al-Jazuli (RA) in the 9th century AH/15th century CE. This is one example of a great Muslim and his writing being cherished and revered by Muslims in Mali.
While Al Qaeda and the like target genuine Muslims with their terrorist attacks, yet they do not raise a finger to defend the Muslims of the world from the constant oppression and genocide of Muslims in places like Kashmir, Myanmar (Burma), Uyghurs in China, Palestine, or anywhere in the world. Their agenda is to terrorize and destabilize Muslim nations in service of foreign powers.
For several months in Niger, there have been on-going protests against the unsuccessful French led anti-Jihadist campaign. The wounds of France’s brutal colonialism along with current day suffering of poverty and violence by Nigeriens has led to the demands that French forces and diplomats leave the country.
It remains to be seen whether the nations and peoples of Africa, be they Muslims, Christians, or others, determine their own destiny, harvest their own resources and claim their own wealth.
M.S. Ahmad Qadri
