In accordance with paragraph 13 of resolution 1822 (2008) and subsequent related resolutions, the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee makes accessible a narrative summary of reasons for the listing for individuals, groups, undertakings and entities included in the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List.
Al Mourabitoun was listed on 2 June 2014 pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 2083 (2012) as being associated with Al-Qaida for “participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of”, “recruiting for” ” Al-Qaida (QDe.004), the Organization of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (QDe.014) and the Mouvement pour l’Unification et le Jihad en Afrique de l’Ouest (MUJAO) (QDe.134); and for “otherwise supporting acts or activities of” Al-Qaida and the Organization of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.
Al Mourabitoun was established on 20 August 2013 by a merger of the group Al Moulathamoun (QDe.140) and the Mouvement pour l’Unification et le Jihad en Afrique de l’Ouest (MUJAO) (QDe.134). It is led by Mokhtar Belmokhtar (QDi.136) and is associated with the Organization of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) (QDe.014), MUJAO and its members Abderrahmane Ould el Amar (QDi.314) and Mohamed Lahbous (QDi.319).
Al Mourabitoun, in conjunction with MUJAO and Al Mouakaoune Biddam (“Those who sign in blood”) (QDe.139), was involved in armed attacks and trafficking in weapons and drugs in the countries of the Sahel and North Africa. In preparing and carrying out attacks, Al Mourabitoun keeps contact with leaders and members of AQIM, including Abdelmalek Droukdel (QDi.232), Yahia Djouadi (QDi.249), Ahmed Deghdegh (QDi.252), Mohamed Belkalem (QDi.279), Tayeb Nail (QDi.280) as well as Djamel Akkacha (QDi.313), the coordinator of groups associated with AQIM in northern Mali. In May 2013, Al Mourabitoun, in association with Al-Qaida and AQIM, carried out the attack against the Areva site in Niger.