Militant group channels Daesh in bid to threaten Spain’s North African enclaves

A NEW video from Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) was posted on YouTube on January 15, calling on jihadis to drive the Spanish out of Ceuta and Melilla. 

The Algerian group’s leader Abu Obeida Yusuf al-Annabi, is heard voicing a direct threat to Spanish interests and using the expression ‘Al Andalus’ in the 23-minute video.

Annabi’s speech is directed at Libya’s Islamic youth and calls for them to reject attempts by dominant western forces to install a “pseudo-democracy” in the former war torn country. 

Once described by the US State Department´s General Carter Ham as al-Qaeda’s ‘wealthiest affiliate’ AQIM consists of militant fighters from the Sahel and Sahara region. 

Renowned for their use of violent methods including kidnappings, suicide bombings, executions of foreign workers and trafficking to raise funds, the group share many similarities with Daesh, yet are said to have no ties with them, with long simmering differences that have since boiled over and Daesh said to be seeking to capture territory where AQIM are active. 

Despite this rivalry, it seems AQIM may have also adopted Daesh’s love of video propaganda having now released two of their own, the first threatening European cities Rome, Naples and Madrid.