Algeria: Terrorist Threat In North Africa

HASSAN MASIKY

01/18/13

Washington / Morocco Board News--  A Mochtar Belmokhtar terror operation in the Sahel, especially after the intervention of French troops in Mali, should not come as a shock to experts following jihadist groups in the Sahara-Sahel region. However, the location of the attack on the BP oil base at Tiguentourine in southern Algeria and the number of assailants who took part in the operation took the most seasoned Sahel connoisseur by surprise.

The attack on In Amenas natural gas facility is a case of kidnapping for ransom rather than a terror attack in the traditional sense. Further, it is a Mochtar Belmokhtar operation and not an al-Qaeda in the Land of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) strike. The Algerian terrorist’s agenda is different than Al-Qaeda‘s and his enemies and targets are the Algerian army and the French government.

Since his fall out with the leaders of AQIM in late 2012, Belmokhtar has been preparing a “spectacular” operation in the region to confirm to his former “comrades” and to the Algerian Army his relevance, strength and influence in the region. Sadly, the brazen hostage taking on the well guarder Algerian gas facilities demonstrates Belmokhtar deadly effectiveness and plunks him at the center of the terror map despite AQIM attempts to dismiss him.

Unconfirmed news of the presence of foreign elements among Belmokhtar group further solidifies the image of the Algerian born terrorist as a regional leader and an influential figure in the world of smuggling and kidnapping in the Sahel and Algerian desert. To understand the events unfolding In Southern Algeria, we should go back to late 2012 when Mochtar Belmokhtar, AKA Khaled Abu El Abass , announced the formation of his new Katiba (name used to refer to Al-Qaeda battalions) . The Katiba called the "signatories with blood’ is an AQMI dissident group that originally may have eyed Mauritania as a new heaven for its terror activities.

Mochtar Belmokhtar, infamous for his daring and violent terrorist operations in Algeria, Niger and Mauritania, has reportedly split from the notorious "Katiba of the turbaned" to establish a new” Emirate” outside the Malian town of GAO. Belmokhtar original plan was to turn part of Northern Mali into a refuge of all the dissidents of Al Qaeda, thus complicating an already confusing security and military situation.

The Algerian born Belmokhtar success in pulling the first ever significant attack against a gas installation in Algeria has stunned Algerian and westerners alike and sent a message to AQIM and the Algerian Army that "signatories with blood’ Katiba is “a major player” in the world of terrorism in North Africa.

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Comments (9)  

 

+3 #1 RE: Algeria: Terrorist Threat In North Africa — Isam 2013-01-18 11:42

I have to send the king of Morocco Kudos and congratulations for not sending any message of "solidarity" to the Algerian leadership.

Only a wise and experienced king understands the Algerian mentality. If we would to send any message - frank or otherwise- the Algerians will take it in hostile way, they would interpret it that Morocco is happy of the events taking place in Algeria and they do not need any comfort from Morocco.

This tells me that under his majesty Mohammed the 6th Morocco is in good hands and well aware on how to handle the Algerians.

They bombarded the facility without consulting with the countries that have their citizens inside the refinery showed lack of wisdom and character of the Algerian leadership.

The Algerian leadership killed 300,000 of their own people, imprisoned Moroccans for a quarter of a century in Tindof, kicked out 300,000 Moroccans in 1975, and now they are causing the death of Innocent Americans, Japanese, Norwegians, French, British, and even Algerians

Their failed excuse is that the terrorists were escaping and taking foreigners with them. What a joke.

The government of his majesty need not make any comment on the situation, it is an internal Algerian affair,and we should not get involved or try to sympathize with Bouteflika.

You all should be proud! we are no killers!

Go Morocco! Down Angola! tomorrow soccer that is....

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-5 #2 RE: Algeria: Terrorist Threat In North Africa — Marcus 2013-01-18 20:08

^LOOOOOOOL dude seriously? C'mon man do you seriously think that Algeria or the west give an ish about what Morocco has to say about this right now? The Algerian leadership acted boldly and rescued many of the hostages albiet the loss of life and I'm sure many Moroccans on here would agree. Our own seals and marines couldn't have done better than that and kudos to them for not giving in to terrorists as did our government in Benghazi and Israel to Hamas. They warned France and NATO that this could happen with the fall of Libya and now they are there to clean up the mess and they showed that no one, not the terrorists or the west, can bully them into any decisions. I only wish their leader could lead this nation as well instead of the community organizer we have now.

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+6 #3 RE: Algeria: Terrorist Threat In North Africa — riffi 2013-01-18 23:32

Their special forces are not swift and silent no negotiations they go with big bang using gunship helicopter and hell with everybody, typically soviet mentality,no respect for hostages and human life. Now the foreign employees will think twice before signing up to go work in algeria.

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+2 #4 After your oil — S Hass 2013-01-19 05:55

the real target from this war is Algeria and it oil , soon you will see more of these attaks on it refineries , we all know that Algerian main income is Oil and if this stop flowing Algeria will be bankrupt. I think Algeria will be split into 2 or 3 independant regions and this talk about how brave the Algerian amry is just hot air , How can it be brave playing hide and shoot anyone who moves!!!! The Algerian soviet styl propaganda is just amazing And the poor Algerians still do believe it!!! the fact is Algeria never won a war against Morocco and never will as always The Algerian army hide behind the Poliziball

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+2 #5 RE: Algeria: Terrorist Threat In North Africa — Borsa 2013-01-19 06:41

Chickens have finally come home to roost in Algeria. Not a single gas/oil field was ever captured during the height of the brutal Algerian civil in the 90's. This humiliating breach in security highlights the monumental failure of the DRS intelligence services.

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0 #6 RE: Algeria: Terrorist Threat In North Africa — Isam 2013-01-19 11:39

AIN AMENAS, Algeria (AP) Algerian assault ends crisis; 19 hostages dead

This is what you are proud of? This is a cowardly act from Algeria who does not value life. They killed a quarter million of their own and 19 hostages is nothing for them.

I just cannot believe that you come here to brag about your rubbish army.

That's the reason I am so proud of our king and his government who know exactly how to handle the enemy next door.

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-1 #7 The elephant in the room — sahrane 2013-01-19 14:16

Will keep on creating enemies to distract, people from the elephant in the room and that’s a genuine democracy not an imaginary third way.as of the terrorist act going on at our neighbors
What the king has to do with it, in the world politics he is an innocent bystander, as long as nobody challenge his absolute power, he is happy as snake oil salesman in a brisk business season, it’s a laughable when I hear or read for that matter that under the brilliant, the genius, illuminati...di rectives and guidance of his majesty , morocco is an exception ……gimme a break. And those are just some of the qualitative descriptions some sleepwalkers tries to put over the population heads ,and the old reflexes are back ,blame anything under the sun on everybody but the culprit ,well let me tell you ,that the terrorists are just that a bloodthirsty created by the dictatorships for their own dirty purpose ,and the jihadists are not doing any favor for democracy in the region on the contrary they’re giving the Moroccans,Alger ians,Saudis…….d ictators a cover to crush the real opposition ,and an excuse to silence the public dissent ,with immunity in the name of war on terror.

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0 #8 the new normal — man en blanc 2013-01-19 14:32

The Algerians did the right thing. There is no room for negotiation with this new breed of terrorists. Call it Al Qaeda 3.0 or whatever, its thirst for bloodshed is unquenchable. Yes. It is sad when innocent lives are lost, but at the risk of sounding heartless, those foreigners knew that they were in a lousy neighborhood, fraught with danger at every dune.
the Algerians sent a clear message to the terrorists : we will dispatch you to that seventy-some virgins orgy in the sky if you mess with us! And to the world : we don't need your blessing before we take action.

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0 #9 RE: Algeria: Terrorist Threat In North Africa — haras 2013-01-19 22:49

I do not know whether the way the Algerian Security services managed the situation is the right or the wrong one, the Russian approach can sound effective and adequate to some, but in this case, many of the hostages were westerners, and that might play a role.

Anyway, the primary fallout from this is a consequent financial and economic to Algeria, since now the risks are becoming higher for any investments in Algerian Oil and Gas, and the insurances (and full packages) for foreign workers will certainly go up two or three folds...

There is also a new risk that emerged from this crisis, the next time the terrorists might just highjack the oil and gas fields and no need for them then to take human hostages... it doesn't matter whether it happens (again) or not, it just did, and it will become a risk that needs to be included in any deal between Algeria and its partners among the oil and gas companies...

Analysis apart, It was a tough week for Algerians, let's wish them peace and comfort...

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