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.
