Reasons behind selection of Abu Ubaida to lead al-Qaeda's branch in Arab Maghreb
The al-Qaeda in the Arab Maghreb named Abu Ubaida Youssef al-Enabi as its new leader on November 21.
Al-Enabi will
succeed Abdelmalek Droukdel who was killed in a
French airstrike in northern Mali in June 2020.
The group published
photos of Droukdel's remains following
the French strike, but four months after this happened.
Renowned terrorist
Al-Enabi is known
for counterterrorism agencies around the world, being a senior figure of
al-Qaeda in the Arab Maghreb.
In 2015, the United
States Department of State included Droukdel
in its international terrorism list.
An Algerian
national, al-Enabi used to be the commander of the Council of al-Qaeda Elders
in the Arab Maghreb. He also heads the media section of the organization in the
region.
Al-Enabi usually
incites against France and calls for attacking French interests.
He appeared in a
video on April 25, 2013 to call for attacking French troops in Mali and Africa,
in general.
He also called for
attacking French interests and citizens.
The United Nations
Security Council has been including al-Enabi in its terrorism list since 2016,
in his capacity as an effective member of al-Qaeda. He plays a major role in
financing the organization and masterminding its attacks. He is also a member
of the Consultative Council of al-Qaeda in the Arab Maghreb.
Reasons for
selection
Al-Enabi represents
the most extremist members of al-Qaeda in the Arab Maghreb. This is especially
true when it comes to relations with France.
Some people make
links between Al-Enabi 's appointment and the latest release of French hostages
in Mali. These hostages were in the custody of al-Qaeda.
