Abdallah al-Chinguetti
Abdallah al-Chinguetti | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Mohamed Lemine Ould El Hassen |
| Born | 1981 Frewa, Trarza, Mauritania |
| Died | February 24, 2013 Timetrine, Mali |
| Allegiance |  AQIM |
| Service/ | Katiba al-Furqan |
| Rank | Emir of Katiba al-Furqan |
| Known for | Commander of Katiba al-Furqan, destruction of UNESCO heritage sites in Timbuktu |
| Battles/wars | Insurgency in the Sahel |
Mohamed Lemine Ould El Hassen, nom de guerre Abdallah al-Chinguetti, was a Mauritanian jihadist and commander of Katiba Al Furqan of the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.
Biography[edit]
Chinguetti was born in 1981 in Frewa, Trarza, Mauritania.[1] He holds a diploma from 2006 from the Higher Institute of Islamic Studies and Research. He was imprisoned when he gave his thesis due to his membership in a jihadist group during the presidency of Ely Ould Mohamed Vall.[1] Chinguetti served in Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, and led a contingent of around a hundred men. Hassen also served as the spokesperson for the southern region controlled by AQIM.[1][2] On June 24, 2011, he commanded jihadist forces during the battle of the Wagadou Forest against Malian and Mauritanian forces.[2] He also kidnapped several hostages, and affirmed to French journalists that they were well-treated.[2]
Chinguetti was promoted to head of Katiba Al Furqan in November 2012 replacing Djamel Okacha, who was promoted to commander of the Sahara.[1] Chinguetti was the first Mauritanian to command a katiba of AQIM. Katiba Al Furqan became active along the Malian-Mauritanian border.[1] He also served as the spiritual leader of AQIM.[3] During the fall of Timbuktu, Chinguetti and other jihadist leaders ruled the city, with Chinguetti personally ordering the destruction of mausoleums protected by UNESCO.[3]
Chinguetti was killed by French forces on February 24, 2013, during the Battle of Timetrine.[4] AQIM confirmed his death along with that of Abou Zeid on June 16, 2013. They did not specify when or where he died, only that they died in northern Mali.[5]
Abderrahmane Talha, also a Mauritanian, succeeded Chinguetti as leader of Katiba Al Furqan that September.[6]
External links[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e magharebia.com. "Al-Qaida nomme un nouveau chef au Mali". Magharebia (in French). Archived from the original on 2014-03-06. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ a b c à 22h35, Par Le 15 octobre 2012 (2012-10-15). "VIDEO. Sahel : les six otages français seraient "bien traités"". leparisien.fr (in French). Retrieved 2024-02-19.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ a b "Situation in the Republic of Mali in the case of The Prosecutor v. Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi" (PDF). International Criminal Court. January 12, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2024.
- ^ Notin, Jean-Christophe (2014). La guerre du France au Mali [France's War in Mali] (in French). pp. 449–451.
- ^ "AQMI confirme la mort d'Abou Zeid". Le Monde.fr (in French). 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
- ^ "Aqmi nomme un successeur à Abou Zeïd". L'Express (in French). 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2024-02-19.