Overview
Jafar Dicko is the leader of the U.S.-designated terrorist group, Ansarul Islam.“State Department Designation of Ansarul Islam,” U.S. Department of State, February 20, 2018, https://2017-2021.state.gov/state-department-designation-of-ansarul-islam/index.html. Dicko took over as leader of the Burkina Faso-based group when his brother, Ibrahim Malam Dicko, was killed in 2017.“Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing measures,” Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering, May 2019, https://www.fatf-gafi.org/media/fatf/documents/reports/mer-fsrb/GIABA-Mutual-Evaluation-Burkina-Faso-2019.pdf. Given Dicko’s role within Ansarul Islam, the European Union added Dicko to the EU’s sanctions list on June 20, 2022.EU fight against terrorism: one group and three individuals added to the EU sanctions list over terrorism,” Council of the European Union, June 20, 2022, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/06/20/eu-fight-against-terrorism-one-group-and-three-individuals-added-to-the-eu-sanctions-list-over-terrorism.
Ansarul Islam is a Burkinabe splinter group of the internationally designated Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam Wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliated group.EU fight against terrorism: one group and three individuals added to the EU sanctions list over terrorism,” Council of the European Union, June 20, 2022, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/06/20/eu-fight-against-terrorism-one-group-and-three-individuals-added-to-the-eu-sanctions-list-over-terrorism. Dicko’s brother, Ibrahim Malam, was an ethnic Peul commander who founded the local insurgency in the northern provinces of Burkina Faso in 2016.“Ansaroul Islam,” Center for International Security and Cooperation, https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/mappingmilitants/profiles/ansaroul-islam. As of 2022, Ansarul Islam primarily consists of Peul fighters who mostly carry out attacks in northern and eastern Burkina Faso as well as near the borders of Mali and Niger.EU fight against terrorism: one group and three individuals added to the EU sanctions list over terrorism,” Council of the European Union, June 20, 2022, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/06/20/eu-fight-against-terrorism-one-group-and-three-individuals-added-to-the-eu-sanctions-list-over-terrorism; “Ansaroul Islam,” Center for International Security and Cooperation, https://cisac.fsi.stanford.edu/mappingmilitants/profiles/ansaroul-islam.
Ansarul Islam first claimed an attack against Burkinabe forces in December 2016, killing 12 soldiers in Nassoumbou. Additionally, the group is suspected to have close contact with members of Katibat Macina, an active insurgent group in Mali.“Katibat Macina,” European Council on Foreign Relations, https://ecfr.eu/special/sahel_mapping/katibat_macina.
According to media sources, Ibrahim Dicko died in May 2017 of thirst and exhaustion following a French-led raid in the jihadist group’s hideout in Foulsaré forest. Jafar Dicko, who was reportedly influenced by Amadou Koufa, the leader of Katibat Macina, quickly replaced his brother. Scholars on the region claim that Dicko lacked his brother’s leadership skills leading to less activity from the group.Pauline Le Roux, “Ansaroul Islam: The Rise and Decline of a Militant Islamist Group in the Sahel,” Africa Center for Strategic Studies, July 29, 2019, https://africacenter.org/spotlight/ansaroul-islam-the-rise-and-decline-of-a-militant-islamist-group-in-the-sahel. Given Dicko’s leadership of Ansarul Islam and his role in perpetuating terrorist attacks across West Africa, the European Union added Dicko to the EU’s sanctions list on June 20, 2022.Pauline Le Roux, “Ansaroul Islam: The Rise and Decline of a Militant Islamist Group in the Sahel,” Africa Center for Strategic Studies, July 29, 2019, https://africacenter.org/spotlight/ansaroul-islam-the-rise-and-decline-of-a-militant-islamist-group-in-the-sahel; “Jafar Dicko, le nouveau visage du djihadisme au Burkina Faso,” Le Monde, December 21, 2017, https://www.lemonde.fr/afrique/article/2017/12/21/jafar-dicko-le-nouveau-visage-du-djihadisme-au-burkina-faso_5232877_3212.html.
Associated Groups
- Extremist entity
- Ansarul Islam
- Type(s) of Organization:
- Insurgent, non-state actor, religious, terrorist, transnational, violent
- Ideologies and Affiliations:
- Al-Qaeda affiliated group, Islamist, jihadist, Salafist, Sunni, takfiri
- Position(s):
- Leader
History
European Union
The Council of the European Union adds Jafar Dicko to the EU sanctions list on June 20, 2022.“EU fight against terrorism: one group and three individuals added to the EU sanctions list over terrorism,” Council of the European Union, June 20, 2022, https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2022/06/20/eu-fight-against-terrorism-one-group-and-three-individuals-added-to-the-eu-sanctions-list-over-terrorism.
Daily Dose
Extremists: Their Words. Their Actions.
Fact:
On April 3, 2017, the day Vladimir Putin was due to visit the city, a suicide bombing was carried out in the St. Petersburg metro, killing 15 people and injuring 64. An al-Qaeda affiliate, Imam Shamil Battalion, claimed responsibility.