The notorious extremist Moktar Belmoktar has rejected a pledge of allegiance to the Islamic State group made by a member of his organization, suggesting splits in his operation.
Belmoktar, who is known for daring attacks and for kidnapping foreigners, allegedly said the earlier pledge violates the rules and principles of his organization that is still loyal to al-Qaida.
The statement was translated by the U.S. Monitoring outfit, the SITE Intelligence Group today.
On Wednesday, an audio pledge to IS on behalf of Belmoktar's Mourabitoune organization surfaced, signed by another member of the group.
That member, Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, was a leader of one of the two groups that came together to form the Mourabitoune.
