Abdelhamid Abou Zeid
Algerian al-Qaeda member / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Abdelhamid Abou Zeid (born Mohamed Ghadir;[lower-alpha 1] 1965 – 25 February 2013), was an Algerian national and Islamist jihadi militant and smuggler who, in about 2010, became one of the top three military commanders of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), a Mali-based militant organization.[3][4][5][6] He competed as the chief rival of Mokhtar Belmokhtar, an Algerian national who had become the major commander in AQIM and later head of his own group.[7] Both gained wealth and power by kidnapping and ransoming European nationals. After taking control of Timbuktu in 2012, Abou Zeid established sharia law and destroyed Sufi shrines.
Abdelhamid Abou Zeid | |
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![]() Abdelhamid Abou Zeid, one of the leaders of AQIM. | |
Born | (1965-12-12)December 12, 1965[1] |
Died | 25 February 2013(2013-02-25) (aged 47) |
Other names | Emir of the South; Mosab Abdelouadoud[2] |
Military career | |
Allegiance | ![]() |
Service/ | ![]() (?–2013) |
Years of service | ?-2013 |
Rank | Governor (Emir) of Timbuktu |
Battles/wars | Insurgency in the Maghreb |
Abou Zeid was killed by French and Chadian troops on 25 February 2013 in fighting in Northern Mali.[8] On 23 March, Zeid's death was "definitively confirmed" by the French president's office.[2]