Overview

Mahamat Daoud is the alleged former leader of Boko Haram.“Nigeria’s Boko Haram militants ‘have new leader,’” BBC News, August 12, 2015, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33889378;
Agence France-Presse, “IS welcomes Boko Haram allegiance: tape,” Yahoo News, March 12, 2015, http://news.yahoo.com/accepts-allegiance-nigeria-jihadists-boko-haram-201513146.html;
“قطـع طريـق إمـداد الرافضـة إلـى معسـكر القيارة,” al-Naba, August 2, 2016, 8, https://azelin.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/the-islamic-state-e2809cal-nabacc84_-newsletter-4122.pdf. In August 2015, Chad’s President Idriss Deby claimed that long-time Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau had been wounded and subsequently ceded power to Daoud. President Deby added that the change indicated that Boko Haram had been “decapitated.”“Nigeria’s Boko Haram militants ‘have new leader,’” BBC News, August 12, 2015, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33889378;
Rick Gladstone, “Nigeria: Boko Haram Is Said To Have A New Leader,” New York Times, August 12, 2015, http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/13/world/africa/nigeria-boko-haram-is-said-to-have-a-new-leader.html. However, a Chadian government spokesman told the media that the leadership change had not been confirmed. Ludovica Iaccino, “Abubakar Shekau ‘ousted’ as Boko Haram leader: Mahamat Daoud alleged new head of terror group,” International Business Times, August 12, 2015, http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/abubakar-shekau-ousted-boko-haram-leader-mahamat-daoud-alleged-new-head-terror-group-1515187.

A few days later, Shekau released an audio recording in which he contradicted Deby’s claims and asserted that the group’s leadership had not changed.“Shekau ‘still in charge’ of Nigeria’s Boko Haram,” BBC News, August 16, 2015, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33952928. Shekau dismissed reports that he no longer commanded Boko Haram, and called them “blatant lies.”“Shekau ‘still in charge’ of Nigeria’s Boko Haram,” BBC News, August 16, 2015, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-33952928.

In early August 2016, ISIS announced Abu Musab al-Barnawi as Boko Haram’s new leader. ISIS mentioned neither Shekau nor Mahamat Daoud in the announcement.“Boko Haram in Nigeria: Abu Musab al-Barnawi named as new leader,” BBC News, August 3, 2016, http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36963711;
“قطـع طريـق إمـداد الرافضـة إلـى معسـكر القيارة,” al-Naba, August 2, 2016, 8, https://azelin.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/the-islamic-state-e2809cal-nabacc84_-newsletter-4122.pdf. Shekau released an audio statement denying ISIS’s claim, and referred to the announcement as a coup.Associated Press, “Shekau says he leads Boko Haram, not IS-appointed successor,” Washington Post, August 4, 2016, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/shekau-says-he-leads-boko-haram-not-is-appointed-successor/2016/08/04/409a0232-5a63-11e6-8b48-0cb344221131_story.html.  Boko Haram pledged allegiance to ISIS under Shekau in March 2015.Agence France-Presse, “IS welcomes Boko Haram allegiance: tape,” Yahoo News, March 12, 2015, http://news.yahoo.com/accepts-allegiance-nigeria-jihadists-boko-haram-201513146.html.