Abbreviations and acronyms

AaS

Ansar al-Sharia

ACLED

Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project

ADC

Democratic Alliance of 23rd May for Change

ADP

Alliance for the Defense of the Homeland

AIS

Islamic Salvation Army

AQIM

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

ARLA

Revolutionary Army for the Liberation of the Azawad

ASMA

Alliance for Solidarity in Mali

CAN

Christian Association of Nigeria

CILSS

Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel

CJTF

Civilian Joint Task Force

CMA

Coordination of Azawad Movements

CNID

National Congress for Democratic Initiative

DSNA

Dynamic social network analysis

ECOMOG

Economic Community of West African States Monitoring Group

ECOWAS

Economic Community of West African States

EUTM Mali

European Union Training Mission in Mali

FIS

Islamic Salvation Front

FPLA

Popular Liberation Front of Azawad

FSA

Free Syrian Army

GATIA

Imghad Tuareg Self-Defense Group and Allies

GIA

Armed Islamic Group

GNA

Government of National Accord

GNC

General National Congress

GSL

Free Salafist Group

GSPC

Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat

HCUA

High Council for the Unity of Azawad

HoR

House of Representatives

IEDs

Improvised Explosive Devices

IMA

Islamic Movement of Azawad

IRA

Irish Republican Army

IS

Islamic State

ISGS

Islamic State in the Greater Sahara

ISWAP

Islamic State West Africa Province

IZALA

Society for the Removal of Innovation and Re-establishment of the Sunna

JMC

Joint Military Commission

JNIM

Jama‘at Nusrat al-Islam wa-l-Muslimin (Group for Supporting Islam and Muslims)

LGAs

Local government areas

LNA

Libyan National Army

LURD

Liberian United for Reconciliation and Democracy

MAA

Arab Movement of Azawad

MINURSO

United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara

MINUSMA

Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali

MNJTF

Multinational Joint Task Force

MNLA

National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad

MODEL

Movement for Democracy in Liberia

MPLA

Peoples Movement for the Liberation of Azawad

MSA

Movement for the Salvation of Azawad

MSF

Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders)

MUJAO

Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NLA

National Liberation Army

NMJ

Niger Movement for Justice

NPDC

Nigeria Petroleum Development Company

NPFL

National Patriotic Front of Liberia

NTC

National Transition Council

OECD

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

ONUC

United Nations Operation in the Congo

PII

Political Independence Index

PN

Positive Negative

RCD

Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie

RUF

Revolutionary United Front

SCBR

Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries

SDF

Syrian Democratic Forces

SNA

Social Network Analysis

SRSG

Special Representative of the Secretary-General

SWAC

Sahel and West Africa Club

UAE

United Arab Emirates

UEMOA

West African Economic and Monetary Union

ULIMO

United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy

UMRDA

Malian Union for the African Democratic Rally

UN

United Nations

UNAMID

United Nations–African Union Mission in Darfur

UNAMSIL

United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone

UNIFIL

United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon

UNMIL

United Nations Mission in Liberia 

UNOCI

United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire

UNOMIL

United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia

UNOMSIL

United Nations Observer Mission in Sierra Leone

UNSC

United Nations Security Council

UNSMIL

United Nations Support Mission in Libya

VDP

Volunteers for the Defense of the Homeland

YPG

People’s Protection Units