CAIRO — A key U.S. ally in North Africa is the target of a new Al
Qaida campaign. Mauritania said it has been facing the challenge of Al Qaida and related
groups infiltrating the North African state.
Al Qaida has been recruiting young men in Mauritania to fight the U.S.
military in such places as Afghanistan and Iraq, officials said. They said
Al Qaida has also poured a large amount of money to establish Wahabi mosques
and force women to wear veils.
A member of the Arab League, Mauritania has been regarded as one of the
staunchest allies of the United States in North Africa. It has served as a
base for U.S. forces and participates in the Washington-led Pan Sahel
initiative. Mauritania also has diplomatic relations with Israel, Middle East Newsline reported.
On May 10, police commissioner spokesman Yahsdhou Ould Amar said Al
Qaida has been coopting teachers in mosques and seminaries to promote
Islamic holy war. Amar suggested that the funding was coming from Al Qaida
sources in the Gulf.
In a statement reported by Mauritania's official news service, Amar said
Al Qaida has also contracted a leading Algerian insurgency group to
infiltrate Mauritania. The group was identified as the Salafist Brigade for
Combat and Call, regarded as the leading subcontractor of Al Qaida.
On May 9, seven Mauritanians were indicted on charges of seeking to
establish a network for the Salafists. Officials said an international
arrest warrant was issued for another two suspects, declared fugitives.
Al Qaida has also been launching attacks on government property in
Mauritania. In April, insurgents raided a police station in Aioun and seized
weapons. Later, a vehicle of the Christian charity WorldVision was stolen by
what officials termed Al Qaida operatives.
Officials said about 20 Al Qaida suspects were captured in April. They
said authorities learned of plans for an insurgency campaign against
Mauritania from the interrogation of the suspects.
