Briefs
One Year After the Death of
Abdelmalek Droukdel AQIM Falls into Obscurity
Jacob Zenn
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has been considered a stalwart affiliate of al-Qaeda since its predecessor organization, the Salafist Group for Preaching Combat (GSPC), pledged loyalty to al-Qaeda in 2006 (Terrorism Monitor, April 5, 2007). The GSPC leader who pledged loyalty to al-Qaeda, and therefore AQIM’s first leader, was Abdelmalek Droukdel. He led AQIM until his death in a U.S.-supported French operation in northern Mali last year (France24, June 25, 2007). Contrary to reports of Droukdel being uninvolved in operations, videos leaked by either the French or Algerian intelligence services showed that he had been meeting with the Sahel’s top jihadists, Iyad ag Ghali and Hamadou Kufa, in the months before his death (europe1.fr, February 2). Indeed, it was because of informants within the Sahelian jihadist ranks that Droukdel’s location was identified and he was subsequen
December 14, 2020 Share
On November 30, 2020, cities of Kidal, Gao and Menaka in northern Mali were hit by simultaneous rocket attacks. The attacks targeted the military camps housing international forces. A camp for peacekeepers belonging to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and soldiers for France’s Operation Barkhane was targeted along with two other military camps.
The attacks were condemned by head of MINUSMA, Mahamat Saleh Annadif. On its official twitter handle, MINUSMA (@UN MINUSMA) tweeted on November 30, “The Head of MINUSMA, Mr. ANNADIF, condemns in the strongest terms the attacks that have targeted the International Forces today. We remain in solidarity with our partners & will spare no effort to carry out our respective Mandates and bring peace to Mali.”