"When Moktar Belmokhtar splintered from AQIM over ideological and operational differences, he oversaw the formation of two new groups, the Tuareg Brigade Mali and Signers in Blood Brigade, in addition to the Masked Battalion which he formed in 2006...Masked Battalion, also known as El Moulethemine battalion, The Masked Brigade, al Mulathamun Brigade (suspected) is an active group formed c. 2007." From TRAC