Al-Mulathameen

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Brigade of the Masked Ones
Al-Mulathameen
Leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar
Merged into Al-Mourabitoun

Al-Mulathameen Brigade (Brigade of the Masked Ones) [1] [2] was a terrorist militant organisation active in North and West Africa founded and led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar [3] who was previously a member of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. In 2013 Al-Mulathameen merged with Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa to form Al-Mourabitoun. [4] [5] In 2017 Al-Mourabitoun merged with the Saharan branch of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Ansar Dine, and Macina Liberation Front to form Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin. [6] [7]

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References

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  2. Lister, Tim; Cruickshank, Paul (4 March 2013). "'Mr. Marlboro': The veteran jihadist behind the attack in Algeria". Cable News Network . Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Archived from the original on 9 July 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  3. "Moktar Belmoktar: A Primer on the al-Qaeda Leader in the Sahara". SITE Intelligence Group . 11 February 2013. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  4. "Belmokhtar's militants 'merge' with Mali's Mujao". BBC News Online . BBC Online. BBC. 22 August 2013. Archived from the original on 11 May 2019. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  5. Weiss, Caleb (5 January 2015). "Jihadists in Mali step up attacks, kill 7 soldiers". Long War Journal . Public Multimedia Inc. Archived from the original on 28 April 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
  6. Graffey, Conor (3 March 2017). "Al-Qaeda now has a united front in Africa's troubled Sahel region". Newsweek . Archived from the original on 22 May 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2017.
  7. "Islamic extremist groups to merge in Mali, pledge allegiance to al-Quaida". TVNZ . Associated Press. 3 March 2017. Archived from the original on 4 March 2017. Retrieved 30 November 2019.