Al-Qaeda in the Mahgreb's purported second in command, Abdel Qader Bin Masud - known as Musab Abu Dawd - has surrendered to Algerian authorities. According to Algerian media reports on Wednesday, the former leader of the Algerian Salafite Group for Preaching Combat (ASGPC) in the southern Sahara, is until now the most important al-Qaeda representative in the hands of authorities. He is apparently taking advantage of the charter for national reconciliation that offers clemency for terrorists that renounce armed conflict.After he surrendered, Masud reportedly provided police with details of the internal operations of al-Qaeda which has been wracked by internal conflict over the decision to transform the Salafite group into a local cell of Osama Bin Laden's network.
The greatest conflict occurred between the leader of the group Abu Masab Abdel Wudud and the emir of ASGPC in the region, Mukhtar Belmokhtar. Some observers believed he would have been the number one candidate to lead the group after the death of Nabil Sahrawi in 2004. Belmokhtar, who allegedly maintained contact with al-Qaeda's international network, had different ideas on how to advance Jihadi operations in Algeria.
According to the revelations of Abu Dawd, the group's leader Abu Musab Abdel Wudud decided independently to shift the group closer to al-Qaeda, counting on the support of the three other leaders and violating the group's statutes that called for a direct vote.
Belmokhtar, who helped found al-Qaeda cells in Mauritania, Nigeria and Mali, is in fear of his life. Among Algerian terrorists, Belmokhtar was deemed the most appropriate person to succeed Sahrawi with a Jihadi background more respected than the actual leader. Abdel Wudud has also been accused of using money from the terrorist organisation for personal ends. Speculation is rife in Algeria that Belmokhtar and other members of al-Qaeda may also abandon armed struggle.