Mohamed Lahbous, a member of the al Qaeda-linked Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa, was listed as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist for his involvement in kidnapping, weapons smuggling, and armed attacks in Algeria.
Extremists exploit Sahel unrest
Thousands of demonstrators marched in the coastal city of Azeffoun in Tizi Ouzou province, to protest against terrorism and the recent killing of three police officers. The assassinations were the third terrorist attack in the al Qaeda stronghold of Kabylie in a week.
Al Qaeda’s widening North African jihad confounds foes
Authorities claimed that 2012 saw the lowest number of terrorist attacks in the country since 2002, and attributed the relative quiet to strong pressure by Algerian security forces, including the increased presence of counterterrorism units on the Libyan border, a new focus on intelligence work, the use of advanced monitoring technologies, and a shift toward […]
Interior Minister Kablia said Algeria is stepping up security measures along the Tunisian border after the murder of eight Tunisian soldiers by jihadists in the Jebel Chaambi area. The Foreign Ministry strongly condemned “appallingly false” allegations by “some circles” in the Tunisian media seeking to cast blame on Algeria for Tunisia’s deteriorating security situtation and […]
Algeria to tackle extremist preaching
Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb killed four soldiers in two separate attacks. A captain was gunned down in Kabylie, while three soldiers were killed in an IED attack in Meziraa.
Security forces ambushed a car carrying four terrorists in Bouira province on July 19, killing all four when the vehicle caught fire. Among the dead were Bourihan Rabah a.k.a. Ayadh Abou Aberrahmane, who was head of inter-zonal communications for al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb; and AQIM communications officer and Rabah deputy Lafi Lakhdar a.k.a. […]
Unnamed officials claimed that security forces killed Abu Al Walid Tuhami, a deputy emir in al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, during an ambush. Tuhami has served with Algerian jihadists since 2002.
The Justice Department charged Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the leader of al Qaeda’s al Mua’qi’oon Biddam, or Those Who Sign in Blood Brigade, with eight terrorism-related charges.
Two bombs were set by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in advance of Prime Minister Sellal’s visit to Tizi Ouzou; one bomb detonated but caused no injuries and the other was dismantled. In desert operations, security forces recently killed 22 militants from the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) and Ansar […]
Authorities announced increased counterterrorism measures to be taken throughout the country during Ramadan and later this summer. At least 10 members of al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb were killed by security forces in recent operations in Bouira, Bordj Bou Arreridj, and Drâa Ben Khedda.
Maghreb women fear regression of rights
At the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum, presidential advisor Kamel Rezzag Bara stressed the global implications of growing terrorist activity in the Sahel. African Union envoy Francisco Caetano Jose Madeira urged greater participation by the UN, the AU, and the European Union in addressing the problem. EU envoy Gilles De Kerchove warned that interactions between terrorists and […]
The Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), an al Qaeda splinter group, offered to swap a kidnapped Algerian diplomat for three Islamist fighters being held in Algeria. Presidential advisor Kamal Rezzag Bara refused the offer, saying that Algeria does not negotiate with or make concessions to terrorists. MUJAO kidnapped seven Algerian consular […]
Algeria to unify fatwas
Failure to understand Islam at root of extremism, terrorism in Sahel, says Mechria
Terrorism knows no border
Foreign Minister Medelci said Algeria and Tunisia are coordinating to secure their shared border, under a security plan implemented three weeks ago. Some 20 key border crossings in the southern region have been identified among over 80 used by terrorists and weapons smugglers. Interior Minister Kabila said Tunisia is now confronting al Qaeda-linked militants near […]
Al-Qaeda swaps Mali for Libya
Algeria looks to jump-start tourism
Bouteflika’s absence leaves Algeria pondering future
The $7 million reward for Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram’s emir, puts him in the top echelon of wanted terrorist leaders. Rewards of $5 million are also offered for Mokhtar Belmokhtar and Yahya Abu Hammam.
Jebel Chaambi heroes describe border horror
Sahel ulema launch prison campaign
Al Qaeda’s scathing letter to troublesome employee Mokhtar Belmokhtar reveals inner workings of terrorist group
Security forces arrested three Tunisian members of Ansar al Sharia in El Taref as they attempted to enter Algerian territory using false passports and traveling in two vehicles. They were wanted in connection with recent events in Kairouan and Ettadhamen City. Four men who kidnapped 32 European tourists and broke into an Algerian prison in […]
Mokhtar Belmokhtar is alive, and announced that his al Mua’qi’oon Biddam, or Those Who Sign in Blood Brigade, carried out the suicide assaults in Niger in conjunction with MUJAO.
The al Qaeda-linked Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa said the suicide attacks were intended to punish Niger for “cooperation with France in the war against Sharia” in Mali.