Mali: Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb Braces for Battle

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb has reportedly appointed a new emir to oversee the jihadist group's entire Sahara-Sahel theater of operations. The move is likely part of an apparent effort by the North African al Qaeda franchise to heighten security precautions in anticipation of several possible challenges to its hold on northern Mali. The group is indeed facing a variety of domestic, regional and multinational threats. The al Qaeda node has suffered several operational and leadership disruptions in recent months, and AQIM brigades and Malian authorities have both been behaving in ways that portend an escalation in counterterrorism operations.