Four Malian extremist movements announced its integration in a unified organization, under the leadership of one leader. The group renewed its pledge of allegiance to Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of Al Qaeda, in what was seen in response to the establishment of joint forces between Mali and National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad.
 
The four movements, Ansar al-Din, Massena Brigades, al-Murabitoun and Emirate of the Sahara region, announced in a broadcasted vedio its integration into a unified organization named "Supporting Islam and Muslims Organization," and the Emir of Ansar al-Din, Iyad Ag Ghaly, was chosen as a prince for it.

The new prince announced, in the vedio, which was published by Nouakchott News Agency, that "Supporting Islam and Muslims Organization" cling to pledge of allegiance for the leader of Al-Qaeda, Ayman al-Zawahiri, the Emir of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Abu Musab Abdul Wadud, and the prince of Taliban, Mullah Hebat Allah.

The expert on extremist groups' affairs, Mohammed Mahmoud Abu el-Maali, said, in interview with Arabs Today,  that Mokhtar Belmokhtar Blaour, the prince of Murabitoun movement, was absent from signing the agreement because he is outside Mali, pointing out that reports confirm the existence of Blaour outside Azawad.

Abou el-Maali stated that this integration comes in response to the establishment of joint forces between Mali and movements of Azawad, which comes in conjunction with the inauguration of the transitional authorities in northern Mali, which is stipulated in the Algiers agreement.

Azawad is a territory in northern Mali, which is inhabited by Arabs and Tuaregs, who are demanding for decades to establish independent state of Mali.