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.
Mokhtar Belmokhtar was listed on 11 November 2003 pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 of resolution 1390 (2002) as being associated with Al-Qaida, Usama bin Laden or the Taliban for “participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf, or in support of” and “recruiting for” the Organization of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (QDe.014).
Mokhtar Belmokhtar was a former Algerian soldier with experience in training camps in Afghanistan. He is the longest serving active group leader and is the head of Al Mouakaoune Biddam (QDe.139), Al Moulathamoun (QDe.140) and Al Mourabitoun (QDe.141). His family connections with local tribes allow the groups to capitalize on criminal opportunities in the southern Maghreb, such as smuggling, to finance terrorism.
Mokhtar Belmokhtar, together with Saifi Ammari (QDi.152), masterminded the exploitation of the Sahara’s permissive operating environment by GSPC (Salafist Group for Call and Combat), now listed as the Organization of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).
Mokhtar Belmokhtar was the subject of international arrest warrant for establishing and belonging to the international terrorist group AQIM.
In June 2004, a tribunal in Illizi, Algeria, sentenced Belmokhtar in absentia to lifetime imprisonment for forming terrorist groups, robbery, detention and use of illegal weapons.
In March 2007, Belmokhtar was sentenced in absentia by a criminal court in Algeria to 20 years imprisonment for forming terrorist groups, kidnapping foreigners, importing and trafficking in illegal weapons.
In March 2008, the court of Ghardaïa, Algeria, sentenced Belmokhtar in absentia to lifetime imprisonment for the murder of 13 customs officers.
Mokhtar Belmokhtar was active in northern Mali and, among other crimes, was involved in the kidnap of two Canadian diplomats working for the United Nations who were abducted in December 2008.
Mokhtar Belmokhtar was reportedly killed in November 2016.