INTERVIEW
His death was officially confirmed by Donald Trump on Sunday. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, head of the Islamic State was killed during a US military operation in northern Syria. But does this mean the end of the Islamic State? "No," replied Monday at the microphone of Europe 1 Wassim Nasr, journalist at France 24 and specialist jihadist movements. "Their leader is dead, but the ideology is still there, and it's been around for almost 50 years"
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"It's a blow, but a hard blow predictable for jihadists who have necessarily appointed a successor for a long time," says the specialist. "He is the leader who has had the longest life in the organization, he was at the helm since 2010, and he also brought him out of the borders of Iraq by transforming Daesh in a sort of global brand, so it's a great success for the Americans who are the only ones who can conduct this kind of operation, "he recalls.
Will the successor to Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi be worse? "
The head of the IS cut, who is then tipped to succeed Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi? "Several names circulate, including that of the boss of their constitutive council". But for Wassim Nasr, "we do not know what will follow: the successor will be worse? Competent?". One thing seems certain, "he has not been put to the test yet".
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A few hours after the official announcement of the death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the Minister of the Interior Christophe Castaner had forward to the prefects a telegram in which he evokes possible "acts of revenge following the death", must we then fear retaliation, and new attacks in the West? "I do not know," says Wassim Nasr who recalls that the "threat is constant", and that "it is especially the opportunity that is missing terrorists to achieve their ends." And to conclude: "If it presents itself, they will seize it".