Ansar Dine
Shahada Flag
Dates of operation	2012 – present
Leader	Iyad Ag Ghaly (2012- May 2012)
Active region(s)	Mali
Ideology	Islamism

Ansar Dine (Arabic: أنصار الدين‎, also transliterated Ançar Dine, Ançar Deen or Ansar ad-Din; meaning "Defenders of Faith"^[1]) is an Islamist group led by Iyad Ag Ghaly. Ag Ghaly, one of the most prominent figures of a Tuareg rebellion in the 1990s, is accused of having links with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and other Islamist groups, a splinter group which is led by his cousin Hamada Ag Hama. Ansar Dine wants the imposition of Sharia (Islamic law) across Mali.^[2][3] The group's first action was in March 2012. On 26 May 2012, the group merged with the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) to form the National Army of Azawad.

Affiliation[link]

Ansar Dine has its main base among the Ifora tribe from the southern part of the Tuaregs' homeland.^[4] It has been linked with Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) because of its leader Iyad Ag Ghaly being the cousin of AQIM commander Hamada Ag Hama.^[3] Salma Belaala, a professor at the Warwick University who does research on jihadism in Northern Africa, says this association is false.^[5] Ag Ghaly was also previously associated with the 1990 Tuareg rebellion.^[3] The group seeks to impose sharia law across Mali, including in the Azawad region. Witnesses have said Ansar Dine fighters wear long beards and fly black flags with the Shahada (Islamic creed) inscribed in white.^[6][7][8] According to different reports, unlike the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), Ansar Dine does not seek independence but rather to keep Mali intact and convert it into a rigid theocracy.^[9][10]

Timeline[link]

On 21 March, the group claimed control of Mali's vast northeast regions. The AFP reported that Ansar Dine claimed to occupy the towns of Tinzaouaten, Tessalit and Aguelhok, all close to the Algerian border, and that they had captured at least 110 civilian and military prisoners.^[11] France accused the group of summarily executing 82 soldiers and civilians in capturing Aguelhok, describing the group's tactics as "Al-Qaeda-style."^[11]

On 22 March, mutineering Malian soldiers unhappy with Amadou Toumani Touré overthrew the Malian government in a coup d'état. Taking advantage of Malian disarray, Ansar Dine and MNLA proceeded to take the towns of Kidal, Gao, and Timbuktu within the following ten days. According to Jeremy Keenan of the University of London's School of Oriental and African Studies, Ansar Dine's military contribution was slight compared to the much larger MNLA: "What seems to happen is that when they move into a town, the MNLA take out the military base — not that there's much resistance — and Iyad [Ag Aghaly] goes into town and puts up his flag and starts bossing everyone around about sharia law."^[12]

On 3 April, the BBC reported that the group had started implementing its version of sharia in Timbuktu.^[9] That day, Ag Ghaly gave a radio interview in Timbuktu announcing that Sharia law would be enforced in the city, including the veiling of women, the stoning of adulterers, and the punitive mutilation of thieves. According to Timbuktu's mayor, the announcement caused nearly all of Timbuktu's Christian population to flee the city.^[13]

On 6 April, the MNLA issued a declaration of independence. However, the military wing of Ansar Dine rejected it hours after it was issued.^[14]

Ansar Dine was reportedly responsible for the burning of the tomb of a Sufi saint, a UNESCO World Heritage site, on 4 May in Timbuktu.^[15] The group also blocked a humanitarian convoy bringing medical and food aid from reaching Timbuktu on 15 May, objecting to the presence of women in the welcoming committee set up by city residents;^[16] after negotiations, the convoy was released on the following day.^[17] In Gao, the group reportedly banned video games, Malian and Western music, bars, and football.^[16]

On 26 May, the MNLA and Ansar Dine announced a pact in which they would merge to form an Islamist state named the Islamic Republic of Azawad.^[18]

References[link]

Look up ansar in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

Ansar may refer to:

• Ansar, Lebanon, a village in south Lebanon
• Ansar, North Khorasan, a village in North Khorasan Province, Iran
• Ansar, a village in Siwan district of Bihar, India
• Ansar (deity), an ancient Babylonian sky god
• Ansar (Islam), citizens from Medina who helped Mohammed
• Ansar (military), a class of Arabian warriors
• Ansar (Sudan), a Sufi religious movement in the Sudan

Al Ansar / Al-Ansar

• Al-Ansar FC, a Lebanese football team
• Al Ansaar (Libya), a Libyan football team
• Al-Ansar (Saudi Arabia), a Saudi Arabian multi-sports club
  • Al-Ansar (Saudi Arabia, basketball)

Others

• Ansar al-Islam, a Sunni Islamist group of Iraqis promoting a radical interpretation of Islam
• Ansar-e Hezbollah, a militant conservative Islamic group in Iran
• Ansarullah, an auxiliary organization of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community
• Ansaaru Allah Community, a black nationalist group founded by Malachi Z. York

See also[link]

• Ansari (disambiguation)
• Al Ansar

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