Abdelmalek Droukdel Explained

Native Name:عبد المالك دروكدال
Native Name Lang:ar
Term End:3 June 2020
Term Start:26 January 2007
Education:Blida 1 University
Branch: GIA (1993–1998)
GSPC (1998–2007)
AQIM (2007–2020)
Serviceyears:1993 – 2020
Nationality:Algerian
Allegiance: Al-Qaeda
Successor:Abu Ubaidah Youssef al-Annabi
Predecessor:Position created
Office:First Emir of AQIM
Rank:Emir
Death Place:Talahandak, Mali
Birth Date:20 April 1970
Birth Place:Meftah, Algeria
Battles:

Abdelmalek Droukdel (Arabic: عبد المالك دروكدال; 20 April 1970 – 3 June 2020),[1] also known by his alias as Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud (Arabic: أبو مصعب عبد الودود), was the emir, or leader, of the Algerian Islamic militant group Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), formerly the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). He was killed during a French special operation during the Battle of Talahandak.

Early life and education

Droukdel was born in Meftah, Algeria, on 20 April 1970.[2] He earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Blida before joining the insurgency in 1996.[3] [4]

Afghan War, Algerian Civil War and the GSPC1

Droukdel returned to Algeria after fighting in the Afghan civil war, and joined the GSPC.[5] Droukdel was a regional leader of the GSPC for several years before becoming the group's commander in 2004 following the death of then-leader Nabil Sahraoui.[6] [7] His mentor was Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi.[8] After the killing of al-Zarqawi in 2006, Droukdel published a statement in a website and stated "O infidels and apostates, your joy will be brief and you will cry for a long time... we are all Zarqawi."[9] Droukdel is believed to have been responsible for introducing suicide bombing to Algeria.[10]

Emir of AQIM

Under Droukdel's leadership the GSPC sought to develop itself from a largely domestic entity into a larger player on the international terror stage. As the new leader of the GSPC, Droukdel reorganized the group, and continued targeting civilians. He was, however, unable to quell the rumblings between factions. In September 2006, it was announced that the GSPC had joined forces with al-Qaeda and in January 2007, the group officially changed its name to the "Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb."[11] Droukdel played a significant role in this merger.[5] However, the local leaders of the organization such as Droukdel began to pursue much more independent activities and were distanced from al-Qaeda in the last quarter of 2012.[12]

Droukdel ousted Mokhtar Belmokhtar from the organization in late 2012 for Belmokhtar's "fractious behaviour".[13] Journalists discovered a document attributed to Droukdel and dated 20 July 2012 in Timbuktu that criticized militants for implementing Islamic law too quickly in Mali.[14] He believed the destruction of shrines would provoke Western governments to intervene in Mali.[15]

Designation

In December 2007, the United States Department of the Treasury imposed financial sanctions and froze Abdelmalek Droukdel's assets under Executive Order 13224.[16] [17]

Death

The French government said on 5 June 2020 that Droukdel, and members of his inner circle, had been killed by French special forces during the Battle of Talahandak, north of Mali two days earlier.[18] AQIM confirmed Droukdel's death two weeks later.[19] He was replaced by Abu Ubaidah Youssef al-Annabi as the leader of AQIM.[20]

Notes and References

  1. News: French forces kill al-Qaida's north Africa chief in Mali. 5 June 2020. The Guardian. 6 June 2020.
  2. http://www.globalterroralert.com/pdf/1205/gspc1205.pdf Interview with Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud, Commander of the Algerian Salafist Group for Prayer and Combat (GSPC)
  3. News: Ragtag Insurgency Gains a Lifeline From Al Qaeda . . 1 July 2008.
  4. Book: Abdel Bari Atwan. The Secret History of Al Qaeda. 2008. University of California Press. 978-0-520-25561-6. 232.
  5. Web site: Jacinto . Leela . Key figures in al Qaeda's North African branch . CIMIC . 21 January 2013 . 27 September 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131214025331/https://www.cimicweb.org/cmo/medbasin/Documents/North%20Africa/Security/Key%20figures%20in%20al%20Qaeda%20North%20Africa.pdf . 14 December 2013.
  6. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3635470.stm New chief for Algeria's Islamists
  7. Web site: Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb . CIMIC . 21 January 2013 . Andrew Hansen . Lauren Vriens . 21 July 2009 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131214025328/https://www.cimicweb.org/cmo/medbasin/Documents/North%20Africa/Security/CFR%20Backgrounder%20on%20AQIM.pdf . 14 December 2013.
  8. News: Belkadi. Boubker. Ruthless chief, head of Al-Qaeda's NAfrica branch. 18 January 2013. Middle East Online. 13 December 2007. Algiers. https://web.archive.org/web/20131211221120/http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=23510. 11 December 2013. dead.
  9. News: Trabelsi. Habib. Zarqawi death 'relief' for rival rebels: experts. 20 January 2013. Lebanon Wire. 9 June 2006. AFP. https://web.archive.org/web/20130320020814/http://lebanonwire.com/0606MLN/06060932MAF.asp. 20 March 2013. dead.
  10. News: Algeria al-Qaeda chief Droukdel sentenced in absentia. 24 December 2017. BBC News. 13 March 2012.
  11. http://siteinstitute.org/bin/articles.cgi?ID=publications247007&Category=publications&Subcategory=0 Salafist Group for Call and Combat Announces its New Name as al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb
  12. News: Johny. Stanly. Waiting for a deluge. 20 January 2013. Business Standard. 9 January 2013. New Delhi.
  13. News: Morgan. Andy. 'Mr Marlboro' lands a seismic blow. https://web.archive.org/web/20130121161143/http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/mr-marlboro-lands-a-seismic-blow-8458855.html . 2013-01-21 . limited . live. 20 January 2013. The Independent. 20 January 2013.
  14. http://hosted.ap.org/specials/interactives/_international/_pdfs/al-qaida-manifesto.pdf MALI-AL-QAIDA'S SAHARA PLAYBOOK - Associated Press
  15. News: Mali Islamists warned about Sharia in al-Qaeda 'manifesto' . BBC News . 2013-02-26 . 26 February 2013 . Doyle, Mark.
  16. https://web.archive.org/web/20071223100750/http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnN04527476.html U.S. freezes assets of Algerian over al Qaeda ties
  17. Terrorism: What You Need to Know About U.S. Sanctions. U.S. Department of Treasury. 14 February 2013. 26 February 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130228090201/http://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/Programs/Documents/terror.pdf. 28 February 2013.
  18. Web site: Al-Qaeda chief in north Africa Abdelmalek Droukdel killed - France. 5 June 2020. BBC News Online. 6 June 2020.
  19. Web site: AQIM confirms leader's death . FDD's Long War Journal . 18 June 2020 .
  20. Web site: Al-Qaeda in North Africa appoints new leader after killing. Al Jazeera. 22 November 2020.