JNIM Founded — Al-Qaeda Unifies Sahel Jihadist Groups

Iyad Ag Ghaly publicly announces the formation of Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), unifying Ansar Dine, Katiba Macina, al-Mourabitoun, and AQIM's Sahara Emirate under a single al-Qaeda banner. The consolidation creates the most powerful jihadist organization in sub-Saharan Africa. JNIM pledges allegiance to al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri and Afghanistan's Taliban.