The Islamist group Ansar Dine , too , began Process_start fighting Hostile_encounter the government in later stages of the conflict Hostile_encounter , claiming Statement control Control of vast swathes of territory , albeit disputed Quarreling by the MNLA .

By 17 July , MOJWA and Ansar Dine had pushed Self_motion the MNLA out of all the major cities .

The MNLA were initially backed by the Islamist group Ansar Dine .

After the Malian military was driven Self_motion from northern Mali , Ansar Dine and a number of smaller Islamist groups began Process_start imposing strict Sharia law .

Afterwards , the MNLA began Process_start fighting Hostile_encounter against Ansar Dine and other Islamist groups , including Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa ( MOJWA/MUJAO ) , a splinter group of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb .