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| Al-Qaida unit in Mali says it has killed French hostage | Al-Qaida unit in Mali says it has killed French hostage |
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| Al-Qaida's North African wing, al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim), claimed to have killed a French hostage captured in northern Mali two years ago and its other French captives were at risk because of France's intervention there, Mauritania's ANI news agency said on Sunday. | Al-Qaida's North African wing, al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (Aqim), claimed to have killed a French hostage captured in northern Mali two years ago and its other French captives were at risk because of France's intervention there, Mauritania's ANI news agency said on Sunday. |
| "All the other hostages are alive," Aqim said in a communique seemingly addressed to the French people and quoted by ANI, which often receives Aqim statements. "But we cannot guarantee their survival for ever because of the attacks by your army on the mujahideen's bases." | "All the other hostages are alive," Aqim said in a communique seemingly addressed to the French people and quoted by ANI, which often receives Aqim statements. "But we cannot guarantee their survival for ever because of the attacks by your army on the mujahideen's bases." |
| ANI reported last week that an Aqim member had said its fighters beheaded Philippe Verdon, who was seized in northern Mali in November 2011, on 10 March. | ANI reported last week that an Aqim member had said its fighters beheaded Philippe Verdon, who was seized in northern Mali in November 2011, on 10 March. |
| Algeria's Ennahar TV reported that Algerian Djamel Okacha, also known as Yahia Abu El Hamam, has replaced Abdelhamid Abou Zeid as the leader of Aqim in the Sahara region. Abou Zeid was killed by Chadian soldiers in northern Mali a few weeks ago. | Algeria's Ennahar TV reported that Algerian Djamel Okacha, also known as Yahia Abu El Hamam, has replaced Abdelhamid Abou Zeid as the leader of Aqim in the Sahara region. Abou Zeid was killed by Chadian soldiers in northern Mali a few weeks ago. |
| Okacha joined Aqim in northern Mali in 2004, a security source with knowledge of the group said. "He was present at the attack against a military barracks in Mauritania in 2005, and he was also present in the killing of an American in 2009," the source said, referring to aid worker Christopher Leggett. | Okacha joined Aqim in northern Mali in 2004, a security source with knowledge of the group said. "He was present at the attack against a military barracks in Mauritania in 2005, and he was also present in the killing of an American in 2009," the source said, referring to aid worker Christopher Leggett. |
| Okacha, 34, is close to Aqim leader Abdelmalek Droukdel, also known as Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud, as they belong to the Group of Algiers, a reference to militants born in the capital region. | Okacha, 34, is close to Aqim leader Abdelmalek Droukdel, also known as Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud, as they belong to the Group of Algiers, a reference to militants born in the capital region. |
| "Okacha is Droukdel's right hand. They have spent 12 years together in the north, before Okacha joined the south," the security source said. | "Okacha is Droukdel's right hand. They have spent 12 years together in the north, before Okacha joined the south," the security source said. |
| Okacha's priority is to reorganise Aqim after it registered the loss of two heavyweight leaders, Abou Zeid and Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the source said. | Okacha's priority is to reorganise Aqim after it registered the loss of two heavyweight leaders, Abou Zeid and Mokhtar Belmokhtar, the source said. |
| France launched a joint military campaign with some African armies in Mali in January to break Islamist rebels' hold on the region, saying the militants posed a risk to the security of West Africa and Europe. | France launched a joint military campaign with some African armies in Mali in January to break Islamist rebels' hold on the region, saying the militants posed a risk to the security of West Africa and Europe. |
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