VOA
Sites by Language
Top Stories:
US, Afghanistan to Hold Talks with Taliban
Obama to Speak in Berlin
English Worldwide
English
voanews.com
Learning English
learningenglish.voanews.com
Eastern & Central Europe
Shqip
Zeriamerikes.com
Bosanski
vijestiglasaamerike.com
Ελληνικά
gr.voanews.com
Македонски
mk.voanews.com
Srpski
glasamerike.net
Українська
chastime.com
Eurasia
Հայերեն
amerikayidzayn.com
Azerbaijani
amerikaninsesi.org
ქართული
amerikiskhma.com
Русский
golos-ameriki.ru
Central Asia
O‘zbek
amerikaovozi.com
East & Southeast Asia
Burmese
burmese.voanews.com
粵語
voacantonese.com
中文
voachinese.com
Bahasa Indonesia
voaindonesia.com
ខ្មែរ
khmer.voanews.com
Khmer
voacambodia.com
한국어
voakorea.com
ລາວ
lao.voanews.com
ไทย
voathai.com
བོད་ཡིག
voatibetan.com
Tibetan
voatibetanenglish.com
Tiếng Việt
voatiengviet.com
South Asia
বাংলা
voabangla.com
دری
darivoa.com
پښتو
pashtovoa.com
وی او اې ډيوه ريډیو
voadeewaradio.com
اردو
urduvoa.com
Africa
Afaan Oromoo
voaafaanoromoo.com
አማርኛ
amharic.voanews.com
Français
lavoixdelamerique.com
Hausa
voahausa.com
Kinyarwanda
radiyoyacuvoa.com
Kirundi
radiyoyacuvoa.com
Ndebele
voandebele.com
Português
voaportugues.com
Shona
voashona.com
Soomaaliga
voasomali.com
Kiswahili
voaswahili.com
ትግርኛ
tigrigna.voanews.com
Zimbabwe
voazimbabwe.com
Middle East / North Africa
فارسی
ir.voanews.com
كوردی
dengiamerika.com
Kurdi
dengeamerika.com
Türkçe
amerikaninsesi.com
Latin America
Creole
voanouvel.com
Español
voanoticias.com
VOA
Log in
Sign up
Log out
Home
USA
Africa
Asia
Mideast
Europe
Science & Tech
Health
Entertainment
Economy
Programs
Audio menu
Live streams
Africa Live
Global Live
Music Mix
Latest Newscast
News
/
Africa
Chad Says Forces Killed Top Al-Qaida Commander in Mali
Print
Comment (2)
Share:
This image released on December 25, 2012 by Sahara Media, shows one of the leaders of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Abdelhamid Abou Zeid in an undisclosed place.
x
This image released on December 25, 2012 by Sahara Media, shows one of the leaders of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Abdelhamid Abou Zeid in an undisclosed place.
Tweet
Related Articles
Security Council Asks for Report on Possible Mali Peacekeepers
TEXT SIZE
-
+
Anne Look
March 01, 2013
DAKAR
— French and Chadian forces battling Islamist militants in Mali's remote northeastern mountains are believed to have killed a top al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb commander known as Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, though the fate of at least four French hostages that Abou Zeid was thought to be holding nearby remains unknown.
Chad's president says Abou Zeid and another al-Qaida commander were among those killed in ongoing military operations in the area. French authorities are not confirming the reports.
Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM)
- Formed in the 1990s to fight Algeria's secular government
- Wants to rid North Africa of western influence and impose sharia
- Estimated to have amassed $100 million in kidnapping ransoms
- Most members are from outside Mali
The Algerian-born jihadist, if his death is confirmed, could be a significant blow in the ongoing war against the al-Qaida-linked rebels who seized control of northern Mali last April.
Zeid has been described as inflexible, cruel, violent, audacious, intelligent, radical and without pity. He was born in Algeria and commands a southern battalion of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, known as AQIM. His command is known to be one of AQIM's most radical factions.
A smuggler by trade, Abou Zeid fought in a succession of armed Algerian Islamist movements in the 1990s. He headed south to Mali about a decade ago as part of the Algerian-led Salafist movement that would ultimately rebrand itself as AQIM in 2006.
Mauritanian journalist and AQIM expert Isselmou Ould Moustapha said in killing Abou Zeid, the French and allied forces in Mali would be knocking out a formidable enemy.
He says Abou Zeid is one of the "most daring and determined" commanders that coalition forces currently face in Mali, even though Abou Zeid does not currently hold the post of "emir of the Sahara," or the chief of AQIM southern operations.
Abdelhamid Abou Zeid
- Also known as Abid Hammadou
- A top leader of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb
- Designated a terrorist by U.S. and U.N.
- Blamed for several kidnappings for ransom of tourists in the Sahel
- Believe to be behind execution of a British and French hostage
- Led attack on Mauritanian military outpost in 2005
- Established AQIM camp in Mali to train terrorists
Moustapha says over the past decade, Abou Zeid has taken on the Mauritanian, Nigerien and Malian armies and made a name for himself engineering kidnappings in 2008, 2009 and 2010. He characterizes Abou Zeid as a powerful field commander who could mobilize fighters as determined as him.
He rose to international infamy for his involvement in kidnapping dozens of European hostages in the Sahel, beginning in 2003.
The operations took in millions of dollars in ransoms, money that analysts say was key to funding AQIM, while all the while being known as a tough negotiator.
Abou Zeid is believed to be behind the executions of two hostages: British tourist Edwin Dyer in 2009 and French aid worker Michel Germaneau in 2010.
You May Like
NASA Introduces New Astronaut Candidates
NASA says half appointees are women, making this highest percentage of female astronauts in one class
More
Singapore, Malaysia Choke as Illegal Indonesia Forest Fires Rage
Illegal clearing of forests by burning is a recurrent problem, particularly during annual dry season that stretches from June to September
More
Scandals Hit Obama's Standing With US Voters
Obama's approval rating fell eight percentage points over past month to 45 percent
More
This forum has been closed.
Comment Sorting
Latest First
Chronological
Comments
by:
Brad Naksuthin
March 03, 2013 9:04 AM
Report Comment
How come the French army can march into Mali and rout the Islamist in a matter of weeks...and the most expensive and best equipped army on earth has been stuck in Afghanistan for 11 years now...with no end in sight...fighting a rag tag bunch of illiterate Muslim farmers who have no tanks, no helicopters, no nuclear submarines, no aircraft carriers, no drones, no night vision goggles, no satellite communications trucks, no THAAD radar systems, no ICMBs, no SM3.....
I'm getting the sneaky feeling that US military contractors don't really want to see Afghanistan come to an end at all. so they are pushing their Pentagon minions to keep the war going on indefinitely. Ten billion dollars a month in Afghanistan is real incentive to keep us fighting for another 11 years
Report Comment
Reason
*
Please enter the code shown on the image
by:
Anonymous
March 01, 2013 4:19 PM
Report Comment
One more down, one billion to go ...
Report Comment
Reason
*
Please enter the code shown on the image
Featured Videos
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
Get the latest Flash player
.
Your JavaScript is turned off or you have an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.
Get the latest Flash player
.
Video
Egyptian Support for Syrian Opposition is Words Over Action
Egypt has further aligned itself with those trying to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. But as VOA's Elizabeth Arrott reports from Cairo, it remains unclear how far Egypt will back its words with action.
More Africa News
Advocacy Groups Welcome New US Great Lakes Envoy
Study: Homosexual Community at Increased Risk for HIV
S. Sudan Could Drop Austerity Budget as Oil Flows
Kenya’s Deputy Leader to Appear during ICC Trial
Japan Boosts Financial Support for African Development
Some Aid Programs in Sahel Prefer Cash to Food
UN Says Libya Continues to Face Difficult Transition
US Names New Envoy to Africa's Great Lakes
Mali Officials, Tuareg Rebels Sign Accord
Congress Debates Limiting US Farmers' Role in Food Aid
More Articles
Blogs
Sonny Side of Sports
Uncle Ted Roberts Tribute
9 days ago
Robbie Russell Goes From Pro Soccer to Medical School
13 days ago
Tony Parker and Spurs Return to NBA Finals
21 days ago
African Music Treasures
Vodoo Rhythms and Angelic Harmonies: Beninese Brothers Jomion and the Uklos
15 days ago
Interview with D.C. Diaspora’s Finest Duo: Mongezi Ntaka and Kuku
Habib Koite and Eric Bibb Show Brotherly Love
Most Viewed
Syria Conflict Exposes Old Rivalries at G8 Summit
Obama, Putin Agree to Disagree on Syria
Turks Embrace Silent Protests
Obama, Putin Agree to Disagree on Syria
NASA Introduces New Astronaut Candidates
Most Emailed
Singapore, Malaysia Choke as Illegal Indonesia Forest Fires Rage
Does Egypt Face a New Revolution?
Gulf States to Launch Sanctions Against Hezbollah
Report: NSA Leaker Denies Contact with Chinese Government
Hope for Change in Iran Tempered With Caution
Most Discussed
Turkey Warns It May Use Army to Quell Protests (10)
Obama, Putin Agree to Disagree on Syria (7)
Iran's President-Elect Rowhani Promises 'New Era' (5)
Assad Warns Europe Will 'Pay the Price' for Arming Rebels (4)
Obama Defends NSA Spying Programs (3)