Al-Qaeda Defectors in Algeria Pledge Loyalty to ’Daesh’

Local Editor

A new armed group calling itself the "Soldiers of the Caliphate in Algeria" has split from al-Qaeda's North African branch and pledged loyalty to the so-called "Daesh" [ISIL] extremist group fighting in Syria and Iraq.

In a communique released on Sunday, a regional commander of AQIM said he broke away from the group, accusing it of "deviating from the true path."

Gouri Abdelmalek, nom de guerre Khaled Abu Suleimane, claimed leadership of the splinter group, and was joined by an AQIM commander of an eastern region in Algeria.

Moreover, the "Soldiers of the Caliphate in Algeria" is the latest group to break with AQIM and side with Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the self-professed "caliph" of Daesh.
Baghdadi fell out with al-Qaeda in 2013 over his decision to expand into Syria, where his followers carried out beheadings, crucifixions, and mass executions.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team