By RFIPosted on 10-21-2019Modified on 21-10-2019 at 22:13

In Tunisia, the Interior Ministry said Monday, October 21, that the Algerian Murad bin Hammadi Chayeb was "one of the most dangerous terrorist leaders." He was shot dead Sunday during an anti-terrorist operation in the mountainous region of Kasserin.

Murad ben Hammadi Chayeb was the leader of Katiba Okba Ben Nafe , a group belonging to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). According to the Tunisian authorities, he has participated in several attacks against soldiers and members of the security forces in Tunisia since 2013.

This is a strong message addressed to terrorists by Tunis authorities who consider this operation as " qualitative " because they targeted the " most bloodthirsty " terrorist.

This operation in the mountainous region of Kasserin is reminiscent of the 2015 that had neutralized Lokman Abou Sakhr, former leader of Katiba Okba Ben Nafe and brother of Murad Chayeb, killed Sunday.

For their part, security managers multiply statements. They argue that terrorist groups are now unable to carry out major operations as in the past, in the city of Sousse or the Bardo Museum in Tunis.

For the specialists of the terrorist questions, the moment was judiciously chosen. The operation, still ongoing on the border with Algeria, shows that "Tunisia remains awake" and that "terrorism can no longer take advantage of security shortcomings", even during this post-election period still uncertain.

However, the fight against terrorism remains at the heart of concerns, especially among some veterans of the old regime. Abderrazak el Mana'i, a retired general, took advantage of this attack to ask the new president Kais Said to develop a real strategy that eradicates the jihadist threat in the country.

Close cooperation between Algeria and Tunisia

Since July, Algiers and Tunis have strengthened their security coordination in the fight against terrorism, especially in the border region between the two countries. The operation that neutralized the Algerian terrorist Mourad Ben Hammadi Chayeb can be seen as a result of this enhanced cooperation. This is the opinion of Alaya Allani, historian researcher in strategic affairs at the faculty of Mannouba in Tunis.

In my opinion, the security apparatus in the mountainous regions is very developed and I think, therefore, that terrorism, in Tunisia, will not be able to gain ground, especially at this time.

Alaya Allani

21-10-2019 - By Houda Ibrahim

    On the same subject

    High Aqmi cadre in Tunisia eliminated, security forces say

    Tunisia: life imprisonment for seven defendants in the Bardo and Sousse trials

    Africa's jihadist countries recapture lost tourists

    Tunisia: What threat does Katiba Ibn Nafaa pose for the country?

    comments