Abdelmalek Droukdel played a critical role in the global jihad. His mission extended beyond al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb; he was a highly influential leader in the global expansion of the Sharia.
His mission was in line with that of the Islamic State, which is now a growing and powerful force in the Sahel region of Africa after being dismantled in the Middle East. It is also in line with the Muslim Brotherhood (MB) goal for global conquest. The MB has been intimately tied to al-Qaeda and the Islamic State for some time.
This is an excerpt from the book, The Challenge of Modernizing Islam, in which I discussed Droukdel’s mindset and ambitions, and his value to the global jihad:
“The Associated Press discovered a document in Timbuktu in January 2013 that revealed al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb’s (AQIM) strategy in northern Mali. The document calls for a “gentler, kinder” al Qaeda. It was reportedly part of a confidential letter from the Amir of AQIM, Abdelmalek Droukdel, to his lieutenants in the Sahara and to Ansar Eddine’s leader, Iyad ag Ghaly.
The letter revealed a deep strategic fracture between AQIM’s leadership and its lieutenants on the ground, as Droukdel saw a military intervention as inevitable. The letter demonstrated a formidable commitment and a worrisome plan for the future.
As part of his strategy, Droukdel states: “As for foreign policies, you must adopt mature and moderate rhetoric that reassures and calms. To do so, you must avoid any statements that are provocative to neighbouring countries and avoid repeated threats. Better for you to be silent and pretend to be a “domestic” movement that has its own causes and concerns. There is no call for you to show that we have an expansionary, Jihadi, Qaida or any other sort of project.”
Most critically, Droukdel makes reference to two specific levels of establishing Sharia: “The Azawad Islamic Project” and the “global Jihadi project.” His advice is to broaden consultations and collaboration as wide as possible, even making reference to the constitution of Azawad and goals to shift it to suit the AQIM project. Such strategy in the Islamic Meghreb demonstrates the level of sophistication that Al Qaeda is engaging in territorially and even globally.
Droukdel talks about planting seeds that will grow in the future, and counsels patience in waiting for the tree to grow, while he rebukes “extreme speed” and hastiness to establish Sharia.
“And if we can achieve this positive thing in even a limited amount, then even if the project fails later, it will be just enough that we will have planted the first, good seed in this fertile soil and put pesticides and fertilizer on it, so that the tree will grow more quickly. We look forward to seeing this tree as it will be: stable and magnificent.”
His instructions on how to spread the seeds of Sharia “in a wise way” are devious and stealthy, to ensure that the circumstances are right and ripe.”
Droukdel’s death has “struck a blow to the organization.” It “also comes at a time of increasing jihadist infighting, between al-Qaeda affiliates and Islamic-State-aligned militants.”
“French Forces Kill Leader of Al-Qaeda in North Africa,” AFP, June 6, 2020:
(AFP) — France said its forces have killed the leader of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, in a blow to the group behind a string of deadly attacks across the troubled Sahel region.
Abdelmalek Droukdel was killed on Thursday in northern Mali near the Algerian border, where the group has bases from which it has carried out attacks and abductions of Westerners in the sub-Saharan Sahel zone, Defence Minister Florence Parly said Friday.
“Many close associates” of the Algerian — who commanded several affiliate jihadist groups across the lawless region — were also “neutralised”, she added.
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) emerged from a group started in the late 1990s by radical Algerian Islamists, who in 2007 pledged allegiance to Osama Bin Laden’s Al-Qaeda network.
The group has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks on troops and civilians across the Sahel, including a 2016 attack on an upmarket hotel and restaurant in Burkina Faso, which killed 30 people, mainly Westerners.
The death of Droukdel — once regarded as Algeria’s enemy number one — could leave AQIM in disarray, French military sources suggested.
Haven for jihadists
France has deployed more than 5,000 troops to combat jihadist groups in the region — a largely lawless expanse stretching over Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger, where drugs and arms flow through porous borders.
Northern Mali is the site of frequent clashes between rival armed groups, as well as a haven for jihadist activity.
In 2012, key cities fell under the control of jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda, who exploited an ethnic Tuareg-led rebel uprising, leading to a French-led military intervention.
According to the UN, Droukdel was an explosives expert and manufactured devices that killed hundreds of civilians in attacks on public places.
He was sentenced to death in Algeria in 2013 for his involvement in the bombings of a government building and offices of the UN’s refugee committee in Algiers that killed 26 people and wounded 177.
The U.S. said it had provided intelligence to help track down Droukdel,
terry sullivan says
well done france
b.a. freeman says
well, yes, but they also believe that AQIM will be left in disarray. since it is a group of pious muslims, i seriously doubt that this monster failed to groom a successor (or successors). this person or persons may not be as good a leader as droukdel, but unless they *KNOW* that they have uprooted and killed every single potential or actual leader, the organization will no doubt continue festering and murdering innocents.
Walter Sieruk says
It’s complete blindness , delusion ,folly and error to even attempt to establish Sharia law in North Africa or for that matter any other nation or place in this world.
About Islamic law ,otherwise known and Sharia law. It should be made known that the actual origin of Sharia law is revealed in a Time –Life book with the title MESOPOTAMIA: THE MIGHTY KINGS copyright 1995. The point is this history book about the ancient pagan world of Mesopotamia informs the reader that “many Islamic laws resemble the Babylon and Assyrian forebears.” .page 150.
There is the above and other references imply that such pagan teachings were incorporated into the religion that Muhammad manufactured and then started.
Thus this further reveals that a lot of ancient paganism is part of the whole religion of Islam.
In other words, ancient paganism makes up much of Islam. Therefore Islam is a hoax.
keith O says
Walter,
Just a note, the term “pagan” means “no religion”. So perhaps referring to them as ancient religions might be better.
Also pagans, world wide are peaceful people who revere females and abhor violence and evil in all it’s forms. They just have bad press over the centuries.
gravenimage says
Keith, here is the definition of Pagan:
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/pagan
It does not mean “no religion”.
keith O says
GI
I’m well versed in the often misleading information regarding Pagans.
We have been fighting these incorrect beliefs about us for a couple of thousand years.
Just because it’s written in a book some where doesn’t make it true, just look at the Koran if you want an example!
gravenimage says
Keith, this is a *dictionary*. Why would a dictionary want to put out false information about the definition of a word?
Here’s the definition from the Oxford English Dictionary:
https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/pagan
Here’s Merriam Webster:
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pagan
Only the second definition is used in the sense of “no religion”.
Here’s the American Heritage Dictionary:
https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=pagan
Only the third definition here is used in the sense you mention.
So the usage you cite is not the way this word is usually used.
mortimer says
What’s that? A ‘kinder, gentler’ and NEW! IMPROVED! Sharia law code?
Who gave them permission to change or modify Allah’s ETERNAL WORDS and ETERNAL LAW CODE?
Mohammed’s dead, fellows, so no new verses in the Koran! No touchee Shari, boys !
Or it’s kkkkkkkkkk-kapoot for you!
Templer says
Well done France know sort Paris out it full off teriste
Beverly says
Kudos. That’s a good start, keep going.
keith O says
France has taken out an incredibly dangerous individual and a lot of his lackeys, GOOD.
What is a little disturbing is that there are now well educated, highly trained, intelligent strategists within the Jihadi organisations.
Anyone can be taught to fire a rifle or blow themselves up, but it takes real smarts to plan ahead the way this individual has.
Just quietly, I would lay money on him and his associates having read “the art of war” and being trained by someone in the west. As the Americans did with Bin Laden to fight the Russians.
And as with that case, the dog got off the leash!
Michael Copeland says
“….be silent and pretend….” – a muslim strategy well worth being aware of.
gravenimage says
France kills Muslim leader who called for a “gentler, kinder” al-Qaeda to establish Sharia in North Africa
…………….
Good for France for once!
Uma Maheswar Nakka says
Good Morning
Good news for a weed obnoxious and poisonous in the world and to the world, was removed, lauded and thanks to France
Dawne says
Good
Sabrina says
Well he failled eanyway… first its not plant a seed its a trojan horse.
Second, a sillant muslim? There is no sillant in that sort of cult. They even scream fore whole citys to pray even here in western citys!
Milde Sharia? Whats that? Chop of half of a head? Beat up the lower part of a non believer? Rob the top floor of a house? Stone the top part to death? Please explain?
James Lincoln says
So the now deceased Amir of AQIM, Abdelmalek Droukdel, called for a “gentler, kinder” al Qaeda.
Isn’t that a little like calling for a “gentler, kinder” Satan?
David says
What he meant was to be more devious and deceptive: Taqiyya, etc. “Softly softly catchy monkey” Patience is the name of the game, when you don’t have enough military power.
OLD GUY says
One more terrorist gone and thousand more to go. I wish BLACK LIVES MATTER and some of these other groups would pay more attention to the islamic murders of thousands of black christians around the world. A bad police officer in America kills a black man and the whole world erupts into cop haters, yet muslims kill thousands and the same groups and media are silent. Where is the justice in that? If black lives matter and they do then they should matter all over the world not just in America. And it shouldn’t matter if it is a white man doing the killing or a man or women of another race, murder is murder period.