Abdelmalek Droukdel: Difference between revisions

Droukdel returned to Algeria after fighting in [[Afghan Civil War (1996-20011996–2001)|the Afghan civil war]], and joined the GSPC.<ref name=jacinto>{{cite web|last=Jacinto |first=Leela |title=Key figures in al Qaeda's North African branch |url=https://www.cimicweb.org/cmo/medbasin/Documents/North%20Africa/Security/Key%20figures%20in%20al%20Qaeda%20North%20Africa.pdf |publisher=CIMIC |access-date=21 January 2013 |date=27 September 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214025331/https://www.cimicweb.org/cmo/medbasin/Documents/North%20Africa/Security/Key%20figures%20in%20al%20Qaeda%20North%20Africa.pdf |archive-date=14 December 2013}}</ref> Droukdel was a regional leader of the GSPC for several years before becoming the group's commander in 2004 following the death of then-leader [[Nabil Sahraoui]].<ref name="New chief for Algeria's Islamists">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3635470.stm New chief for Algeria's Islamists] [[BBC]], 7 September 2004</ref><ref name=cimic>{{cite web|title=Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb |url=https://www.cimicweb.org/cmo/medbasin/Documents/North%20Africa/Security/CFR%20Backgrounder%20on%20AQIM.pdf |publisher=CIMIC |access-date=21 January 2013 |author=Andrew Hansen |author2=Lauren Vriens |date=21 July 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131214025328/https://www.cimicweb.org/cmo/medbasin/Documents/North%20Africa/Security/CFR%20Backgrounder%20on%20AQIM.pdf |archive-date=14 December 2013}}</ref> His mentor was [[Abu Musab Al-Zarqawi]].<ref name=meonline>{{cite news|last=Belkadi|first=Boubker|title=Ruthless chief, head of Al-Qaeda's NAfrica branch|url=http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=23510|access-date=18 January 2013|newspaper=Middle East Online|date=13 December 2007|location=Algiers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211221120/http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=23510|archive-date=11 December 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> After the killing of [[al-Zarqawi]] in 2006, Droukdel published a statement in a website and stated "O infidels and apostates, your joy will be brief and you will cry for a long time... we are all Zarqawi."<ref>{{cite news|last=Trabelsi|first=Habib|title=Zarqawi death 'relief' for rival rebels: experts|url=http://www.lebanonwire.com/0606MLN/06060932MAF.asp|access-date=20 January 2013|newspaper=Lebanon Wire|date=9 June 2006|agency=AFP|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130320020814/http://lebanonwire.com/0606MLN/06060932MAF.asp|archive-date=20 March 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Droukdel is believed to have been responsible for introducing suicide bombing to Algeria.<ref>{{cite news|title=Algeria al-Qaeda chief Droukdel sentenced in absentia|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17359310|access-date=24 December 2017|work=BBC News|date=13 March 2012}}</ref>