Photo Gallery Extremism in the Maghreb
France has pledged to root out extremism in northern Mali. But as the assault on the natural gas facility in Algeria this week demonstrates, borders in the region are permeable and extremists have free rein.
The region is vast and sparsely populated. this image shows the Tigantourine natural gas facility in Algeria that was attacked by extremists this week.
There are several extremist groups operating in the region, including most notably Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. Here, an AQIM spokesman makes an announcement about French hostages taken by the group last autumn.
The Algerian army on Thursday sought to free the several dozen hostages taken by the extremists during their raid on the natural gas facility. Several of the hostages lost their lives in the operation, according to media reports.
Islamists, however, don't just operate in northern Mali and Algeria. Mauritania and Niger also include large areas that are difficult to patrol. Morocco too has seen extremist incursions. Here, authorities display weapons seized from an alleged terror cell there.
Militiamen from the Ansar Dine Islamic group who say they come from Niger and Mauritania. They have been active in northern Mali in recent months.
Mauritania shares a border with Mali some 2,240 kilometers (1,390 miles) long, and is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. The military has been weakened by several coups and security forces are poorly organized.
Thousands of people have fled northern Mali as Islamists have taken over in the last 12 months. This image is from a refugee camp in southern Mauritania.
