Abou Khebbab, new Emir of El Qaeda in El Oued

The Emir of the national organization of El Qaida in Islamic Maghreb, has, according to sources of Ennahar, proceeded to the appointment of a former adhering to armed activities against the state, Nejia Mohamed, a native of the city of Guemar and known as Abou Khebbab. This latter was elected emir of El Oued after the blows suffered by the organization and the destruction of the support cells during the second half of 2008. The number of terrorists from El Oued is about 50 elements.

• The choice of Najia Mohamed from Guemar, aged 42 years is not fortuitous. He is very familiar with the Sahara region, including the region of El Oued he knows very well. Abou Khebbab is responsible for securing the roads and paths, but he dares not confront the security forces with his weapon for the simple reason that it is fearful. He always managed to escape the security forces. The latest was in late 2008 when he was in a house just behind the prison of El Oued. He was in the company of other terrorists. Some were killed, others arrested while Abou Khebbab succeeded to escape.
  
  Who is Abu Khebbab?
  
  Nejia Mohamed, alias "Abou Khebbab", was born in 1968 in the region Guemar. He is an early fan of the ex party FIS 1990. He participated with others in the Guemar events of November 21 1991. Those events are seen as the prelude to armed activities in Algeria. All those who had taken part have been eliminated. He is the only survivor; he was arrested and imprisoned in Tazoult in Batna from where he managed to escape in 1994 after the attack by armed Islamist groups on the prison during this period. Abou Khebbab was in charge for bringing weapons from the Sahara to the north. He has long crossed the northern Sahara and took part in an attack on a military barracks in Mauritania in 2005. He was also among the kidnappers of Austrian tourists and the operation against the border guards in El Oued in 2008 which made 8 deaths among border guards.
  
  Ennahar / A. El Oued Kamel