Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud
Encyclopedia
Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud (a.k.a. Abdelmalek Droukdel) (born April 20, 1970) is the emir, or leader, of the Algerian Islamic militant group Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb
(AQIM), formerly the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC).
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Under Abdel Wadoud's leadership the GSPC has sought to develop itself from a largely domestic entity into a larger player on the international terror stage. In September 2006 it was announced that the GSPC had joined forces with al-Qaeda
and in January 2007 the group officially changed its name to the "Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb."
In December 2007 the United States Department of the Treasury
imposed financial sanctions and froze Abdel Wadoud's assets under Executive Order 13224
.
Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb
The Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb, previously known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat is a radical Islamist militia which aims to overthrow the Algerian government and institute an Islamic state. To that end, it is currently engaged in an insurgent campaign.The group...
(AQIM), formerly the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC).
Biography
Wadoud earned a university degree in mathematics before joining the insurgency in 1996.Militant commander
Abdel Wadoud 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 SahraouiNabil Sahraoui
Nabil Sahraoui , alias Mustapha Abou Ibrahim was an Algerian Islamist militant, and the head of the radical Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat from August 2003 until his death the following year.In 2003 he pleged allegiance as GSPC leader to Usama bin Ladin's Al Qaeda...
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Under Abdel Wadoud's leadership the GSPC has sought to develop itself from a largely domestic entity into a larger player on the international terror stage. In September 2006 it was announced that the GSPC had joined forces with al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda
Al-Qaeda is a global broad-based militant Islamist terrorist organization founded by Osama bin Laden sometime between August 1988 and late 1989. It operates as a network comprising both a multinational, stateless army and a radical Sunni Muslim movement calling for global Jihad...
and in January 2007 the group officially changed its name to the "Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb."
In December 2007 the United States Department of the Treasury
United States Department of the Treasury
The Department of the Treasury is an executive department and the treasury of the United States federal government. It was established by an Act of Congress in 1789 to manage government revenue...
imposed financial sanctions and froze Abdel Wadoud's assets under Executive Order 13224
Executive Order 13224
Executive Order 13224 is an executive order signed into law by U.S. President George W. Bush on September 23, 2001 as a response to the September 11, 2001 attacks....
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External links
- Key Leader Profile: Abdelouadoud, Abou Mossaab MIPT Terrorism Knowledge BaseMIPT Terrorism Knowledge BaseThe MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base was an online portal containing information on terrorist incidents, leaders, groups, and related court cases. The TKB ceased operations on 31 March 2008. TKB was sponsored by the National Memorial Institute for the Prevention of Terrorism , a non-profit...
- Ruthless chief, head of Al-Qaeda's NAfrica branch Middle East Online, December 13, 2007