Nabil Sahraoui

Nabil Sahraoui
Born 26 September 1966
Batna, Algeria
Died 20 June 2004 (aged 37)
Allegiance Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb
Rank Emir
Battles/wars Islamic insurgency in Algeria

Nabil Sahraoui (26 September 1966 – 20 June 2004), alias Mustapha Abou Ibrahim, was an Algerian Islamist militant, and the head of the radical Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat (GSPC, later renamed Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb) from August 2003 until his death the following year.

Early life

Sahraoui was born in Batna, Algeria, on 26 September 1966.[1]

GSPC

In 2003, Sahraoui replaced Hassan Hattab as the leader of the GSPC, since the latter was removed from the post due to his view that reconciliation with the government should be encouraged.[2] In October 2003, Sahraoui pledged allegiance as GSPC leader to both Usama bin Ladin's Al Qaeda organization and to the Taliban leader Mullah Omar.[3]

Death

Sahraoui was killed in a shootout with the Algerian army in the Kabylie region on 20 June 2004 at age 37.[4][5][6][7] His top aides were also killed in the military sweep.[8]

Sahraoui was replaced as head of the GSPC by Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud over the objections of former leader Hassan Hattab.[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ "Algerian Islamist GSPC leader Nabil Sahraoui profiled". Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. 28 May 2004. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  2. 1 2 Tawil, Camille (27 July 2009). "New Strategies in al-Qaeda's Battle for Algeria" (PDF). Terrorism Monitor. 7 (22). Retrieved 21 January 2013.
  3. ↑ Steinberg, Guido (2008). "Towards a "political turn" in the fight against Jihadist terrorism" (PDF). Politique Etrangere: 175–187. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  4. ↑ "Nabil Sahraoui". Global Security. Retrieved 23 January 2013.
  5. ↑ Algerian armed forces say rebel leader is killed Taipei Times (Reuters report), 21 June 2004
  6. ↑ "Algerian Military Says Terror Leader Killed". Fox News. AP. 20 June 2004. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
  7. ↑ Staff writer (July 2006). "Chronology Of events: 2005". Mediterranean Politics, special issue: Transnational Islam and Regional Security: Cooperation and Diversity between Europe and North Africa. Taylor and Francis. 11 (2): 279–308. doi:10.1080/13629390600683048.
  8. ↑ "Algerian military says top guerrilla leader Nabil Sahraoui killed in army sweep". Canadian Press. 20 June 2004. Retrieved 24 January 2013.
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