A new set of jihadi groups has appeared this century that are more extreme than the original groups from which they emerged. The founders of the new groups claim that the original groups like al-Qaeda, the Muslim Brotherhood, and others may have neglected Islam, which is the reason behind the division and the creation of the new groups. However, the real reason is the pursuit of strength, power, and money. The most important of these groups, which were recently born out of the other groups, are: 1. Jama'atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda'Awati Wal Jihad: It is known as Boko Haram, which means "Western teachings are forbidden" and it is a Nigerian, Islamist, Salafist jihadi group that focuses on the application of Islamic law in all the states of Nigeria. The group was founded in January 2002, by Mohammed Yusuf. The current leader is Abubakar Shekau. The group is known as Nigeria's Taliban and it is made up of students who have given up on study and who have set up a base in the northeast of the country, on the border with Niger. The group's violent activities include killing, burning, bombing, and kidnapping girls. 2. Al Nusra Front: It came into being in 2012 and began with launching suicide attacks in Damascus. It consists of more than 6,000 fighters, mostly Syrian. Its leader is Abu Mohamed Al Julani, who heads the "Jihadist training arm" of the group. He has seen fighting in Iraq and has served under Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi. Last October, there were reports, quickly denied by the Front, that Al Julani had been killed. 3. Jaysh Al Islam: This is a recently formed group, which includes more than 50 revolutionary factions, according to group spokesman Islam Alloush. There are unconfirmed reports that it has thousands of members. The group is active in the Gota area, near Damascus and it is one of the most organized groups in terms of military might. It is part of a seven-member revolutionary group that has now formed a new Islamic Front. 4. Ansar Dine movement: It is an Islamist Salafist armed group that seeks to implement Islamic law in the State of Mali. Its founding leader is Iyad Agha Ghali, who is a former military commander and historic leader in the Tuareg rebellion of the 90s of the last century. Ansar Dine is the largest and most important group in northern Mali and it is thought to be similar to Afghanistan's Taliban, because it is a local movement and most of its leaders and fighters are local people. The group managed to extend its control over the ancient city of Timbuktu, in northwest Mali, where it demolished Sufi shrines, which were registered on UNESCO's World Heritage list in 1988, arousing fierce reactions from the international community and the United Nations. 5. Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa: It is one of the main armed Islamic movements that are active in the northern areas and it has split from Al Qaeda's branch in Morocco. It is led by Mohamed Ould Nwimmer and most of its fighters are Arabs. The group calls for jihad in West Africa and its main center of power is the city of Gao, which is located on the Niger River, in northeast Mali. Its violent activities include the kidnapping of diplomats and foreigners. It executed an Algerian diplomat, after the country's authorities refused to conclude an agreement with them for the release of Islamist prisoners and for the payment of a ransom estimated at around 15 million euros. The movement announced the formation of four military squads: (named after Abdullah Azzam, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and Abu Laith al-Libi). The movement has another battalion, which is known as the Osama bin Laden battalion, led by a member of the group's Shura Council, Ahmed Ould Amer. 6. Ansar Al Sharia: It was founded by Ammar Ould Hamaha, who was a member of all the Islamic groups in Mali before forming his own battalion, after leaving the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa. He has been known for his ability to draw attention to himself since the beginning of the Islamist takeover of northern Mali. Some called him (The Man with the Red Beard), others described him as (The Man with Strong Charisma) because of his striking presence and his fluent French language, which he masters more than any other Muslim leader in the North. 7. Al Muwaqi'oon Biddam battalion: It is led by Algerian Khaled Abu Abbas (Mokhtar Belmokhtar) and he formed it after he was excluded from the leadership of Al-Mulathameen battalion by Al-Qaeda's branch in Morocco, for administrative reasons enforced by the Emir of the organization, Abu Musab Abdul Wadud. Belmokhtar decided to form a new organization of militants called (Al Muwaqi'oon Biddam). However, he remained keen to conform to the same decisions adopted by the other armed groups concerning the crisis in northern Mali. The group has announced its responsibility for kidnapping Western hostages in Algeria.
