Eyes on Jihadism. Monitoring Jihadist Propaganda #65

From 24 to 30 April

In one publication, a newsletter that collects the main propaganda of Jihadist and Salafist-Jihadist organisations and groups, from 24 to 30 April.

Propaganda will be divided into individual organisations:

In the case of al-Qaeda (AQ) and the Islamic State (IS), central leadership and official branches and provinces will be included.

As of 1 June, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), groups operating in Syria, will no longer be included in this weekly monitoring of jihadist propaganda. The reasons are found in the fact that they no longer seem to apply the ideological and theoretical principles of jihadism in their propaganda, operations, and daily lives. Salafist-Jihadists are defined by their desire to create a state based on a Salafist approach to Islamic law, they oppose Muslim regimes that are not governed by Islamic law and their foreign supporters, and they aim at the total overthrow of the established order. HTS seem to be doing none of this. They do not implement jihadist governance or oppose foreign Muslim states but want to ally themselves with them, and even reach out, collaborate, agree with Western countries, or be recognised by international organisations. They avoid, in the areas under their control, implementing Salafist norms on the population, they oppose and fight other jihadist organizations, and in the speeches of their ideologues they do not seem to evoke or cite Salafist jihadist arguments, but purely Islamist ones.

On the other hand, some groups integrated into the HTS brigades or collaborating with the “Al-Fateh al-Mubin Operations Room” and the aligned groups remain included, as in their ideology and propaganda (also since they are not indigenous groups) continue to show clear links to local or global jihadism.

So, after AQ and IS, a section will be devoted to groups integrated into the Liwa of HTS but publish independent propaganda.

This will be followed by groups aligned with HTS (operationally and militarily, they coordinate with the “al-Fateh al-Mubin Operations Room” of HTS or they respect the policies of HTS), but not integrated with it.

Then there will be the independent groups, i.e. those that even though they have alliances and close relations with other jihadist groups, have independent operations and propaganda. 

Finally, there will be the Jihadist tactical groups.

This issue features all the main propaganda material from:

• al-Qaeda:

( AQAP, JNIM, al-Shabaab);

• Islamic State (IS):

(1 issue al-Naba, IS official media)

• Jihadist groups integrated into Liwa/Brigade HTS but with independent propaganda.

(Mujahind Ghuroba al-Turkestan)

• Independent Jihadist groups:

(Turkestan Islamic Party, Ansar al-Islam);

• Jihadist Tactical Group

(1453FSM Tactical, Fursan Tactical).

I would like to remind all readers to access the app or the site because within the e-mail you cannot read the entire analysis and not all photos are displayed.

1. Al-Qaeda (AQ)

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) published, two statements and two photos to claim two attacks as part of the “Arrows of Truth” campaign.

Target: Security Belt Force, Shabwa Defence Force

Area: al-Mudiya area, Abyan governorate and al-Musaina area, Shabwa governorate. Yemen.

Az-Zallaqa Media, Jama’at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), issued 2 statements, and 7 photos, claiming 17 attacks.

Target: Burkinabe Army, Wagner Militia, Malian Army, Togolese Army.

Area:

-Nara area, Koula area, Koulikoro Region; Diabaly area, Niono area, Segou Region; Tenenkou area, Mopti Region; Mali

-Fada N’gourma area, Gourma Province, Est Region; Dori area, Seno Province, Sahel Region; Tenkodogo, Boulgou Province, Centre-Est Region; Kongoussi, Bam Province, Centre-North Region; Banfora area, Comoé Province, Cascades Region; Burkina Faso.

- Kpendjal Prefecture, Savanes Region; Togo

Al-Kataib Media, Harakat al-Shabaab al-Mujahidin, released a 1:27-minute video showing its fighters attack the Somali army camp in the Baidoa area, in the Bay Region. Somalia