Nabil Sahraoui

Nabil Sahraoui (26 September 1969 – 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.

Nabil Sahraoui
Born26 September 1969
Batna, Algeria
Died20 June 2004 (aged 34)
Béjaïa Province, Algeria
Allegiance GSPC
Al-Qaeda
Years of service?–2004
RankEmir of GSPC
Battles/warsInsurgency in the Maghreb

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 Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda organization and to the Taliban leader Mohammed Omar.[3]

Death

Sahraoui was killed in a shootout with the Algerian army in the Kabylie region on 20 June 2004 at age 34.[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. 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 Étrangère (5): 175–187. doi:10.3917/pe.hs02.0175.
  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. 11 (2): 279–308. doi:10.1080/13629390600683048. S2CID 220378402.
  8. "Algerian military says top guerrilla leader Nabil Sahraoui killed in army sweep". Canadian Press. 20 June 2004. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2013.


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