The Transformation of Jihadism in North Mali: From Political "Cause" to Criminal Economy

Abstract

Islamic terrorism is considered the main threat affecting the Sahel region. However in order to understand this threat, it has to be connected and merged with organized crime and drug trafficking. Thus for the European Union and North African countries is much more difficult to fight against this phenomenon. This article tries to go in depth explaining the combination of criminal acts and drugs business, which has transformed the so called jihadist project of AQMI in the north of Mali. The nationalist-religious speech is the main tool of these peculiar groups for getting new adherents to a political-religious project whose main objective is the creation of a criminal economy.