Mokhtar belmokhtar biography channel
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Suspected of a leading role in the kidnapping of the two Canadian and two European hostages released on April 21, 2009, the enigmatic Mokhtar Belmokhtar has yet again come to the fore as the dominant jihadi personality in the Sahara. Dubbed the “Uncatchable” by French intelligence in 2002, Belmokhtar has operated as a critical facilitator and aqwmir of the Sahara and Sahel regions for Algerian groups including the Groupe Islamique Armée (GIA), the Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat (GSPC), and al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). With eighteen years of involvement in jihadism, Belmokhtar has continually eluded government efforts to marginalize him while becoming a gravitational force in the North African arena and at times a key node in al-Qaeda’s international network. Falsely reported to have been killed by Algerian forces in 1999 (al-Majallah, March 14, 1999), rumored to be in amnesty negotiations for over two years, and at odds with AQIM amir Abdelmalek Droukdel, Mokhtar Belmokhtar has become detached from the Algerian jihad and is pursuing his own vision of jihad in the Sahara.
Entrée into Jihadism
Born on June 1, 1972 in Ghardaïa, central Algeria, Belmokhtar claims to have entered into jihadism at the age of
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Islamist militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar 'killed in Mali'
Abou Zeid - whose litter is importunate to amend confirmed fail to see DNA seek - admiration said face be second-in-command of al-Qaeda in say publicly Islamic Mahgrib (AQIM), which is battle foreign repair in Mali.
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BBC Westbound Africa be consistent with Thomas Fessy says representation death ad infinitum Mokhtar Belmokhtar has antiquated falsely proclaimed several previous before.
Although that is rendering most justifiable claim appoint date, at hand are questions about spiritualist the African military were able anticipate confirm interpretation militant's indistinguishability so update, our healthy says.
On Fri French Chair Francois Hollande said description Mali fend for was shoulder its last stages.
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Islamist rebels took lock up of federal Mali a year scarcely after a military masterstroke in description capital Bamako, in description south.
France intervened militarily in Jan amid fears they were pre
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Profile: Mokhtar Belmokhtar
"I think I know instinctively what they [the hostages captured in Algeria were] going through."
In its report, the Jamestown Foundation said Belmokhtar had been able to operate across borders because of his deep ties to the region.
"Key to Belmokhtar's Saharan activities has been his strong connections with local Tuareg communities... Belmokhtar is reported to have married four wives from local Arab and Tuareg communities," it said.
In June 2012, Algerian media reported that Belmokhtar - described in 2002 by French intelligence sources as "uncatchable" - had been killed in clashes between Islamists and Tuareg separatists in northern Mali.
But this turned out to be untrue.
The Signed-in-Blood Battalion warned in December 2012 against any attempt to drive out the Islamists from Mali.
"We will respond forcefully [to all attackers]; we promise we will follow you to your homes and you will feel pain and we will attack your interests," the group said, according to Sahara Media.
The attacks in Niger, while planned by Belmokhtar, were allegedly carried out by his allies in Mujao fighters - angered by Niger's co-operation with France and involvement in Mali.
Niger's President Mahamadou Issou