From rock music to terrorism: Who is Iyad Ag Ghali, Malian leader of al-Qaeda?

ALBAWABA - The recent attacks in Mali have brought into sharp focus one of the most controversial figures in the region: Iyad Ag Ghali, leader of Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaeda affiliate.

Ag Ghali's early life was marked by a mix of political activity and limited diplomatic involvement, before becoming the head of al-Qaeda in the Sahel, seeking power in Mali and threatening transitional authorities in countries like Burkina Faso and Niger.

Who is Iyad Ag Ghali?

Iyad Ag Ghali has become a major player in Mali's security and political landscape in recent years, forging controversial alliances with the Tuareg and vowing to establish an Islamic state in the country, a goal rejected by the transitional authorities led by Assimi Goïta.

^{Iyad Ag Ghali, leader of the Islamic group of Ansar Dine, looks on at Kidal airport before a meeting with Burkina Faso's foreign minister, Djibrille Bassole, on August 7, 2012. Photo by ROMARIC OLLO HIEN / AFP}

When he was young, Iyad was addicted to alcohol and rock music, which has surprised many, especially given his lavish lifestyle, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.4

The American newspaper further said that Ag Ghali was close to Ibrahim Ag Habib, founder of the Tin Zaouatine music group, and was also an addict of rock music.

Ag Ghali belongs to the Ifagos tribe in Mali, which is centered in Timbuktu. Due to harsh climatic conditions, thousands of Tuaregs were forced to migrate to countries such as Libya and Chad, and he left with them.

The life of Iyad Ag Ghali has taken dramatic turns, as he fought alongside brigades loyal to the late Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi before the outbreak of the so-called "Arab Spring."

Following the collapse of Gaddafi's regime after a popular uprising supported by extensive NATO intervention, Ag Ghali returned to Mali to embark on a remarkable military career. 

He assembled Azawad fighters under the banner of Ansar Dine, later renaming it Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which has been waging a major campaign against the transitional authorities.