Country Reports on Terrorism 2016 - Terrorist Safe Havens: The Trans-Sahara

In 2016, terrorist organizations – including al-Qai'da in the Islamic Maghreb, al-Mulathamun Battalion (AMB), Movement for Justice and Oneness in West Africa, Ansar al-Dine, and Macina Liberation Front – could no longer claim safe haven in the Trans-Sahara region.

Following their degrading and scattering in 2013 by combined African and French operations, these terrorist groups took a year to reorganize and began a campaign of asymmetric warfare that included light raids, soft target attacks, and use of improvised explosive devices, land mines, and suicide bombers.

The groups were no longer able to conduct major military-style campaigns as they did in 2012. Nor were they able to claim safe haven in northern Mali as they are under constant pressure by French forces and denied free movement by the French and the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali. Partner forces challenged their movements and operations when found throughout the Maghreb and Sahel. In 2016, these terrorist groups did not grow, recruitment remained flat lined, and they were unable to expand their zones of operation.

Nonetheless, terrorists' asymmetric warfare in this region continued, making progress restoring governance, services, and security in parts of the Sahel difficult.

The Malian government does not support or facilitate the proliferation or trafficking of weapons of mass destruction in and through its territory.