Abdallah al-Chinguetti

Abdallah al-Chinguetti
Birth nameMohamed Lemine Ould El Hassen
Born1981
Frewa, Trarza, Mauritania
DiedFebruary 24, 2013
Timetrine, Mali
Allegiance AQIM
Service / branchKatiba al-Furqan
RankEmir of Katiba al-Furqan
Known forCommander of Katiba al-Furqan, destruction of UNESCO heritage sites in Timbuktu
Battles / warsInsurgency in the Sahel

Mali War

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

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]

References

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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)
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ Notin, Jean-Christophe (2014). La guerre du France au Mali [France's War in Mali] (in French). pp. 449–451.
  5. ^ "AQMI confirme la mort d'Abou Zeid". Le Monde.fr (in French). 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2024-02-19.
  6. ^ "Aqmi nomme un successeur à Abou Zeïd". L'Express (in French). 2013-09-27. Retrieved 2024-02-19.