Yezid Mebarek (Arabic: أبو عبيدة يوسف العنابي; born 1969), better known by his nom-de-guerre Abu Ubaidah Youssef al-Annabi, is an Algerian Islamist militant who is the current 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]
Abu Ubaidah Youssef al-Annabi أبو عبيدة يوسف العنابي | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 2nd Emir of AQIM | |
| Assumed office 3 June 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Abdelmalek Droukdel |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Yezid Mebarek 1969 (age 54–55)[1] Annaba, Algeria |
| Education | University of Constantine |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Al-Qaeda |
| Branch/service |  FIS (1992–1996) GIA (1996–1998) GSPC (1998–2007) AQIM (2007–present) |
| Years of service | 1992–present |
| Rank | Emir of AQIM |
| Battles/wars | |
The U.S. Rewards for Justice Program is offering up to $7 million in exchange for information leading to al-Annabi's apprehension.
Biography
editYoussef 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 21 November 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 at the time, Jean Emmanuel Ouédraogo, described the channel as, "not only acting as a mouthpiece for these terrorists but worse".[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Abu Ubaydah Yusuf al-Anabi". Rewards for Justice. Archived from the original on 7 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Abu Ubaydah Yusuf al-Anabi". Counter Extremism Project. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 23 November 2020.
- ^ Tasamba, James (27 March 2023). "Burkina Faso blocks France 24 broadcasts over al-Qaeda interview". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 28 March 2023.