3 Mali Islamic extremist groups merge, pledge loyalty to Al-Qaeda

Three Islamic extremist factions in Mali announced that they have merged into one group and pledged allegiance to Al Qaeda’s leader, according to a group that monitors jihadist websites.

Leaders from Ansar Dine, al-Mourabitoun, and Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb made the official declaration in a video distributed Thursday, according to SITE Intelligence Group.

The merged group is now called ‘‘Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen,’’ which in English translates to ‘‘Support of Islam and Muslims,’’ the monitoring group said.

Iyad Ag Ghaly, the former leader of Ansar Dine who is a native of the Kidal region, is leading the combined group, SITE Intelligence Group said.

Islamic extremists linked to Al Qaeda took over northern Mali in 2012, exploiting a power vacuum after mutinous soldiers overthrew the president.

AP