Al-Qaeda's Yemen branch has announced Saad al-Awlaki as its new leader | Who is he?

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), long regarded by Washington as the most dangerous faction of the Al-Qaeda network, has announced Saad al-Awlaki as its new leader. The Yemen branch of the terrorist group had announced earlier this month that their then-leader, Khalid Saeed al-Batarfi, was dead.

Who is al-Awlaki? 

Also known as also known as Sa’d Muhammad Atif, al-Awlaki is a Yemeni national who is currently on the United States’ wanted list. Washington has announced a $6 million bounty on his head.

According to a report released by the United Nations in July last year, al-Batarfi and al-Awlaki led conflicting wings in the AQAP. The report also reaffirmed that al-Awlaki enjoyed the support of some Yemeni tribes.

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Al-Awlaki’s Vision for AQAP

As the new leader, al-Awlaki brings to the table his strong ties with influential Yemeni tribes, especially in Shabwa, an AQAP stronghold. His connections could prove instrumental in unifying the group and reinvigorating its operational capabilities.

As part of AQAP’s advisory council, al-Awlaki has garnered the support of both the group’s religious and military factions, positioning him as a unifying figure. This means that he is capable of mobilising fighters and potentially steering the organisation towards resuming its international terror operations.

He is expected to consolidate the group’s ranks and possibly steer it towards attacks in Western countries. He has publicly called for attacks against the US and its allies.

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AQAP’s current position

AQAP was formed in 2009 by merging Al-Qaeda’s Yemeni and Saudi branches. Based in the Southern part of Yemen, AQAP has claimed responsibility for attacks like the one on Charlie Hebdo in France in 2015.

AQAP has recently been more subdued. Internal divisions, financial troubles, and clashes with other Yemeni forces have impeded its operations. However, with al-Awlaki at the helm, the group could see new life breathed into it.

With inputs from agencies