Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, the most dangerous Daesh leader in West Africa
Lehbib Ould Ali Ould
Said Ould Yumani, known by the nom de guerre Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, was
born in the Sahrawi city of Laayoune, belongs to Rokibat tribe.
Abu Walid al-Sahrawi is
the most dangerous leader in Daesh group in West Africa. The radical leader
operates at a vast desert that covers an area of more than seven thousand
Kilometers, from south of Algeria, passing through Mauritania’s north eastern
borders , reaching Mali and Niger. Abu Walid al-Sahrawi takes advantage of the
region’s crises such as, poverty, war, ethnic unrest and illegal trade to wage
attacks on American, French, Malian and Nigerien troops, kidnapping of
diplomats and tourists.
Abu Walid al-Sahrawi
joined several armed extremist groups in the region of African Sahel before
joining Daesh. He used to be the head of Al-Mourabitoun Jihadist group, then
became the leader of “Tawheed and Jihad” movement in West Africa. A former
commander in Polisario Front which seeks independence of Sahrawi people from
Morocco.
Abu Walid graduated from an
Algerian University where he studied sociology. The Daesh leader speaks three
languages, his first presence was on October 2011 when he declared his
allegiance to Al Qaeda group, right after kidnapping three European tourists in
south western of Algeria.
In 2012, he was the spokesperson
of “Tawheed and Jihad” movement, Abu Walid demanded a 30 million Euros ransom
to release hostages, and demanded another 15 million Euros ransom to release 7
diplomats. Abu Walid announced the execution of the Algerian diplomat Taher
Tawati after he was kidnapped in north of Mali.
In 2015, Abu Walid declared his
allegiance to Abu Bakr al Baghdadi of Daesh after he was named emir of Al-Mourabitoun
Jihadist group. The radical leader announced later that he will orchestrate
operations to create border unrest between Burkina Faso and Niger. Abu Walid
took the responsibility of attacks against French troops in 2015 between Niger
and Mali. The extremist leader announced his responsibility of another attack
that killed 4 US soldiers and 5 Nigerien troops on October 2017.
Abu Walid is working currently to
form an alliance of radical groups in the face of the joint military forces,
formed by African Sahel States.
