A new audio message of support from Abu Mus'ab 'Abd Al-Wadoud, leader of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) to Ansar Al-Din, has surfaced. Ansar Al-Din is a fairly new Islamist group operating in the Azawad region that has recently declared its independence. The group claims to be in control of several towns in Azawad, including Gao, Kaidal and Timbuktu, and has declared its wish to implement shari'a law in them. Ansar Al-Din's claims should be treated with caution, in light of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad's (MNLA) continued presence in these towns and its efforts to reassure their residents. Therefore the audio message confirms the existence of ties between AQIM and Ansar Al-Din and should be analyzed in the context of the ongoing tension between the latter and the MNLA.[i] It should be noted that although the message was not released yet by AQIM's media wing, the voice of the speaker in the recording is undoubtedly that of 'Abd Al-Wadoud. A copy of the message was obtained by Sahara Media, a Mauritanian news agency.

Following is an overview:[1]

Abu Mus'ab 'Abd Al-Wadoud

In the message the AQIM leader lays down a series of guidelines for Ansar Al-Din for the management of the areas under its control. On the political level, 'Abd Al-Wadoud urged Ansar Al-Din to avoid as much as possible any clashes with the Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA). He also instructed Ansar Al-Din to refrain from acting under AQIM's name in its local activities in Azawad. Following is a summary of the main points in the message:

'Abd Al-Wadoud begins by congratulating Ansar Al-Din for "the victories and conquests of our mujahideen brothers in the Ansar Al-Dian movement in Kaidal, Gao and Timbuktu" calling them "an unprecedented historical victory". He sent a personal greeting to the group's leader, Iyad Ag Ghali. The main bulk of the message consists of tactical instructions for ruling the areas of Azawad , which include the following:

1. 'Abd Al-Wadoud strongly urged Ansar Al-Din to refrain from fanaticism.[1] The AQIM leader warned Ansar Al-Din that now that it controls these towns it has a responsibility for the reputation of the entire Islamic project. If they adhere to the shari'a, treat the people with kindness and help solve their problems they will encourage them to rally around the Islamic project. He repeated the admonition "Be kind to the Muslims" three times.

2. The implementation of shari'a should be done gradually. At the first stage the group must not apply the Koranic punishments (hudoud), such as cutting off the hands of thieves. At the current stage Ansar Al-Din should focus on other aspects of governance according to shari'a law, such as taking care of alcohol and drug dealers and shutting down licentious businesses.

3. Ansar Al-Din must provide vital services for the public in the towns it controls, including security, justice and civil services.

4. 'Abd Al-Wadoud recommends the establishment of an administrative council for every town it controls to coordinate the providing of security and vital services.

5. He strongly recommends ensuring that every element in the local population is represented in these councils, so that no party feels left out or neglected.

6. 'Abd Al-Wadoud calls for a dual tactic for boosting support for the mujahideen's rule: on one hand, to undertake a da'wa campaign of spreading "the correct faith" among the public using the preachers and the mosques. On the other hand, to apply proper conduct in providing the people's needs.

7. Regarding the MNLA 'Abd Al-Wadoud said: "Avoid as much as possible any clashes with the MNLA and stay clear from antagonizing it. Exert all your efforts in an attempt to win over their public by preaching to them and by sharing the burden of our Islamic project with them". Ansar Al-Din should offer the MNLA to cooperate and coordinate on issues both sides agree upon, and avoid deepening conflicts.

8. All activities that have to do with managing and controlling towns and areas in Azawad must be done under the guise of Ansar Al-Din, whereas the guise of AQIM should be kept for the latter's activities in the global jihad.