Mukhtar Bilmukhtar, a top figure in the ranks of Al-Qa’ida Organization in the Islamic Maghreb (QOIM), is negotiating with the Algerian government the terms of his surrender, according to Maghrebia News.
Bilmukhtar, who fought in Afghanistan before returning home in 1993, is believed to have supplied the QOIM, which is an official branch of Al-Qa’ida, with weapons and to have set up terrorist cells in Mali and Mauritania.
During the past year Mauritania has experienced a number of terror attacks, including the killing of four French tourists in December last year and an attack on the Israeli embassy earlier this year.
Bilmukhtar, who is also known as Lâaouar the one eyed, has been observing a truce for more than a year, and during this time has been living in a secure location together with 15 loyal followers. His lawyer, however, is deeply concerned that former compatriots of Bilmuhktar will try to assassinate him and is pushing for a speedier process and for the army to be responsible for his client’s security.
The QOIM has for some time been engaged in internal strife regarding the methods and allegiance of the organization. Many of the organization’s local leaders, including Bilmuhktar, have opposed the use of car and suicide bombs in populated areas, which have been advocated by new leadership, mostly made up of Iraqis and Afghans.
It is also understood that Bilmuhktar was not in favor of the decision taken in 2006 by the organization’s leader, ‘Abd Al-Malik Droukdal, to change the group’s name from the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat to QOIM