Profile: Abu Ubaidah Youssef al-Annabi

Posted On 20 March 2023

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Abu Ubaidah Youssef al-Annabi

Abu Ubaidah Youssef al-Annabi (Arabic: أبو عبيدة يوسف العنابي; born 1 January or 7 February 1969), also known by Yezid Mebarek, is an Algerian Islamist jihadi militant who is the current emir, or leader, of the Algerian Islamic militant group Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), formerly the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). In November 2020, he was named emir, replacing Abdelmalek Droukdel who was killed during a French special operation during the Battle of Talahandak.[2]

The U.S. Rewards for Justice Program is offering up to $7 million in exchange for information leading to al-Annabi's apprehension.

Biography

Youssef al-Annabi was born in Annaba, Algeria.[3] After studying economics at the University of Constantine, he became an active militant of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), an Islamist party created in 1989. A year after the end of the electoral process in January 1992, Youssef al-Annabi, freshly graduated, joined the ranks of the Islamic Salvation Army (AIS) to fight in the Algerian Civil War, then those of the GIA where he met Abdelmalek Droukdel in 1996.[4]

He rose in rank by participating in the creation of the GSPC in 1998. In November 2009, Youssef narrowly escaped death when he fell into an ambush by the Algerian army in the maquis of Imsouhel, in the wilaya of Tizi Ouzou.[4]

After the death of Abdelmalek Droukdel, AQIM announced on November 21, 2020 that Abu Ubaidah Youssef al-Annabi had been appointed to succeed him.[5]

On 29 September 2015, the U.S. State Department designated al-Annabi as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist under Executive Order (E.O.) 13224.[6]

On 28 March 2023, the government of Burkina Faso suspended the broadcasting of French state-owned media France 24 after they aired an interview with al-Annabi. The country's information minister described the channel as, "not only acting as a mouthpiece for these terrorists but worse".[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Abu Ubaydah Yusuf al-Anabi". Rewards for Justice. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
  2. ^ "Al-Qaeda in North Africa appoints new leader after killing". Al Jazeera. 22 November 2020. Archived from the original on 17 December 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  3. ^ "Les menaces terroristes d'Aqmi prises «au sérieux» par la France". RFI (in French). 7 May 2013. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Qui est le nouveau chef d'Aqmi, Abou Obeida Yousouf al-Annabi ? – Jeune Afrique". JeuneAfrique.com (in French). Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  5. ^ "AQMI désigne son nouveau dirigeant pour remplacer Abdelmalek Droukdel". LEFIGARO (in French). 21 November 2020. Archived from the original on 6 March 2022. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Abu Ubaydah Yusuf al-Anabi". Counter Extremism Project. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
  7. ^ Tasamba, James (27 March 2023). "Burkina Faso blocks France 24 broadcasts over al-Qaeda interview". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 28 March 2023.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Ubaidah_Youssef_al-Annabi
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The North Africa Journal is a leading English-language publication focused on North Africa. The Journal covers primarily the Maghreb region and expands its general coverage to the Sahel, Egypt, and beyond, when events in those regions affect the broader North Africa geography. The Journal does not have any affiliation with any institution and has been independent since its founding in 1996. Our position is to always bring our best analysis of events affecting the region, and remain as neutral as humanly possible. Our coverage is not limited to one single topic, but ranges from economic and political affairs, to security, defense, social and environmental issues. We rely on our full staff analysts and editors to bring you best-in-class analysis. We also work with sister company MEA Risk LLC, to leverage the presence on the ground of a solid network of contributors and experts. Information on MEA Risk can be found at www.MEA-Risk.com.

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