Profile of a Terror Group Leader: Hammadoun Kouffa, Leader of the Macina Liberation Front (FLM), a faction within JNIM.
1. Basic Details
Full Name: Hammadoun Kouffa
Aliases: Amadou Kouffa, Koufa, Sheikh Kouffa
Date and Place of Birth: 1958 (approx.), Niafunké, Timbuktu Region, Mali
Nationality and Ethnic Background: Malian, Fulani (Peul) ethnic group
Family Background: Kouffa comes from a Fulani pastoralist community, a group often marginalized in Mali. His upbringing in a traditional and rural setting may have influenced his worldview and the way he mobilized ethnic grievances to build his movement.
2. Education and Early Life
Education Level: Kouffa studied Islam extensively, reportedly under the tutelage of radical preachers in Mali and possibly Mauritania. He received training as a preacher, making him influential in his community.
Skills and Training: Skilled in religious rhetoric and adept at leveraging grievances to recruit followers. Allegedly trained in insurgency tactics through alliances with extremist groups.
Notable Events: The political instability following Mali's 2012 coup and the subsequent Tuareg rebellion played a significant role in his radicalization.
3. Path to Extremism
Ideological Development: Kouffa transitioned from being a local imam to becoming a vocal jihadist leader, using Salafi-jihadist ideologies to challenge state authority and rally Fulani support.
Affiliations: He initially worked with Ansar Dine, a jihadist group led by Iyad Ag Ghaly, before becoming a prominent figure within the Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-affiliated coalition.
Role Models: Iyad Ag Ghaly likely served as a mentor, guiding Kouffa in his rise within jihadist networks.
4. Position in the Terror Group
Current Role: Leader of the Macina Liberation Front (FLM), a faction within JNIM. His primary role includes leading operations, recruitment, and propaganda campaigns focused on the Fulani population.
Path to Leadership: Kouffa founded the FLM around 2015, capitalizing on ethnic tensions and grievances. His ability to link jihadist ideology with local conflicts made him a prominent figure in the Sahel’s extremist landscape.
Key Contributions: Under Kouffa’s leadership, the FLM expanded its operations in central Mali, particularly targeting government forces and rival ethnic groups. He has promoted a narrative that combines jihadist goals with Fulani rights advocacy.
5. Group’s Structure Under His Leadership
Key Operations:
2015: FLM conducted its first major attack in central Mali, targeting Malian soldiers.
2019: Large-scale assaults on military bases in Dioura and Mondoro.
Persistent ambushes and raids targeting local militias and UN peacekeepers.
Ideology and Objectives: Kouffa’s rhetoric emphasizes the establishment of Sharia law, protection of Fulani interests, and the overthrow of secular governments in Mali and the Sahel region.
Operational Tactics: Combines guerrilla warfare with asymmetrical attacks such as IEDs and raids. His group uses Fulani communities as recruitment bases and safe havens.
6. Notable Characteristics
Leadership Style: Charismatic and pragmatic, Kouffa leverages his religious authority and ethnic identity to inspire loyalty. His ability to blend jihadist and ethnic narratives has been central to his success.
Public Persona: Often portrayed as a defender of the Fulani people against state oppression, he has effectively used propaganda to build his image.
Psychological Profile: Highly manipulative, Kouffa is skilled at exploiting grievances. His religious conviction and ideological zeal suggest he is deeply committed to his cause.
7. Connections and Networks
Alliances:
Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), where he collaborates with leaders like Iyad Ag Ghaly and other Sahelian jihadists.
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), providing ideological and operational support.
Sponsors or Supporters: Allegations of external support from illicit trafficking networks and sympathizers within Mali’s Fulani community.
Rivalries: Competes with Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) for influence in the Sahel, particularly over recruitment and territorial control.
8. Security and Counter-Terrorism Measures
Attempts to Capture/Kill:
In 2018, French forces claimed to have killed Kouffa, but he resurfaced in 2019, appearing in videos to dispute his death.
Ongoing joint counter-terrorism operations by France, Mali, and regional forces have targeted his group.
Evasiveness: Kouffa operates in remote regions of central Mali, leveraging dense terrain and local support to avoid capture.
Impact of Counter-Terrorism Efforts: Despite efforts to dismantle the FLM, Kouffa’s influence remains strong, particularly in areas where state presence is weak.
9. Legacy and Impact
Reputation within the Group: Revered by his followers as both a religious leader and a military strategist.
Global Impact: His leadership has contributed significantly to the spread of jihadist violence in the Sahel, destabilizing Mali and its neighbors.
Potential Successors: While no clear successor has been identified, Kouffa’s death or removal could lead to fragmentation within the FLM, with splinter factions possibly emerging.
10. Recent Developments
Current Status: Believed to be active and operational in central Mali, though his precise location remains unknown.
Public Statements: Recent propaganda videos emphasize the FLM’s commitment to fighting state forces and advocating for Fulani rights.
Future Threats: Kouffa’s group continues to pose a significant threat to Mali’s stability, particularly through its ability to exploit ethnic divisions and weak governance.
SOURCE: Osint