West Africa: Al Qaeda Is Expanding Operations in Benin and Ivory Coast, Says French Intelligence Chief

France’s intelligence chief, Bernard Emie, said he believes al Qaeda leaders in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam Muslimeen (JNIM) and other affiliate groups met in central Mali to plan an expansion of their operations toward countries on the Gulf of Guinea, Le Figaro reported Feb. 1. ...