Algerian terrorist, Abdelhamid Abou Zeid dies

Date: 25 Feb 2013
Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Abdelhamid Abou Zeid was born Mohammed Ghadir in Algeria. He was an Islamist militant who became one of the top three military commanders of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), a Mali-based militant organization. To fund the activities of AQIM, Abou Zeid made millions by kidnapping Westerners for ransom. In 2012, AQIM took control of Timbuktu, established sharia law and destroyed the Sufi shrines. He was killed on 25 February 2013 in Northern Mali by French and Chadian troops. His death was officially confirmed by AQIM in June 2013.

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01Nouakchott (16 June 2013), "Al Qaeda group confirms death of Abou Zeid and another leader",From Reuters [online] Available at: www.reuters.com[Accessed on 11 February 2014]
02BBC News (23 March 2013), "Africa Profile: Abdelhamid Abou Zeid",From:BBC News,[online] Available at: www.bbc.co.uk[Accessed on 11 February 2014]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2014, February 20). Algerian terrorist, Abdelhamid Abou Zeid dies. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097081

South African History Online (2014) 'Algerian terrorist, Abdelhamid Abou Zeid dies', South African History Online, 20 February. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097081 (Accessed: 14 August 2026).

South African History Online, Algerian terrorist, Abdelhamid Abou Zeid dies [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097081, (accessed 14 August 2026).

"Algerian terrorist, Abdelhamid Abou Zeid dies." South African History Online, 20 Feb. 2014, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097081. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Algerian terrorist, Abdelhamid Abou Zeid dies." South African History Online. February 20, 2014. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0097081.