Database: Identifiers of Designated Islamic Terrorist Organizations

Ansaru

Designated as terrorist by: United Kingdom, United Nations, United States

Base of operations: Nigeria

Background: Council on Foreign Relations
Background: BBC News

Jama'at Ansar al-Muslimin fi Bilad al-Sudan ("Vanguard for the Protection of Muslims in Black Lands" in Arabic), better known as Ansaru, is an Islamist terror group operating in Nigeria. It is widely seen as a breakaway faction of Boko Haram. While Boko Haram's grassroots fighters focus on domestic targets, Ansaru counts many foreign-trained Nigerian jihadists in its ranks and places greater emphasis on attacking Western interests, especially through kidnappings. The United Kingdom has described Ansaru as "anti-Nigerian government, anti-Western, and broadly aligned with al-Qaeda." In particular, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb is believed to have influenced Ansaru's outlook and tactics.

Ansaru Emblem	Ansaru Fighters and Flags	Ansaru Flag