Nabil Sahraoui | |
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Born | 26 September 1969 Batna, Algeria |
Died | 20 June 2004 (aged 34) Béjaïa Province, Algeria |
Allegiance | ![]() ![]() |
Years of service | ?–2004 |
Rank | Emir of GSPC |
Battles/wars | Insurgency in the Maghreb |
Nabil Sahraoui (26 September 1969 – 20 June 2004), alias Mustapha Abou Ibrahim, was an Algerian Islamist militant, and the head of the radical Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat (GSPC, later renamed Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb) from August 2003 until his death the following year.
Sahraoui was born in Batna, Algeria, on 26 September 1966.[1]
In 2003, Sahraoui replaced Hassan Hattab as the leader of the GSPC, since the latter was removed from the post due to his view that reconciliation with the government should be encouraged.[2] In October 2003, Sahraoui pledged allegiance as GSPC leader to both Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda organization and to the Taliban leader Mohammed Omar.[3]
Sahraoui was killed in a shootout with the Algerian army in the Kabylie region on 20 June 2004 at age 34.[4][5][6][7] His top aides were also killed in the military sweep.[8]
Sahraoui was replaced as head of the GSPC by Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud over the objections of former leader Hassan Hattab.[2]
People listed in italics have died. | |
Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat | |
Held at Guantanamo Bay | |
Alleged al-Qaeda members | |
Armed Islamic Group | |
Others | |
1 Currently imprisoned. 2 Released after serving sentence. |