Ansar Dine trying to marginalize AQIM

Ansar Dine have waived the application of Sharia in Mali in order to begin negotiations with Bamako. But their ties with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), with whom they have not officially broken,  are still very ambiguous, according to Jeune Afrique.

In fact, the two groups remain interdependent in their pre-eminence in northern Mali. They  joined forces to chase  out the separatist Tuareg National Movement for the Independence of Azawad (MNLA). AQIM provides logistical and above all financial support to Iyad  Ag Ghali in exchange for greater proximity to the people, " a security source in Bamako told Jeune Afrique.
 
 Ansar Dine Tuareg is the only force that controls two regions of northern Mali (Timbuktu and Kidal) militarily and politically. But to negotiate from a position of strength with Bamako,Iyad Ag Ghali currently  is trying to find a way to break off relations with AQIM.This may prove to be difficult given the access they now have to the local populations in Timbuktu and Kidal.

Ansar Dine is aiming to gain support of local Islamic authorities,islamic judges,imams and tribal leaders  who advocate traditional Islam,Jeune Afrique concludes.

If  AQIM were to win influence amongst traitional tribal authorities they will undoubtedly become much harder to dislodge. President Dioncounda Traore said in a speech the Ansar Dine was made up of Malians as distinct from foreigners like AQIM and Mujao but the different memberships could become less distinct. AQIM was recently reported to have recruited a regiment led by a Tuareg with Tuareg jihadis. With no military intervention likely until September AQIM and its allies have time to influence and organise.