Overview

Sa’ad bin Atef al-Awlaki is the emir of al-Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula (AQAP). He has served as both a regional emir and member of the group’s shura council.“Reward Offers for Information on Senior Leaders of al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula,” U.S. Department of State, November 7, 2019, https://2017-2021-translations.state.gov/2019/11/07/reward-offers-for-information-on-senior-leaders-of-al-qaida-in-the-arabian-peninsula/; Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss, “Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula names new emir; U.S. has $6 million bounty on his head,” Long War Journal, March 11, 2024, https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2024/03/al-qaeda-in-the-arabian-peninsula-names-new-emir-u-s-has-6-million-bounty-on-his-head.php. In March 2024, al-Awlaki was named emir of the group following the death of AQAP leader Khalid Batarfi.David Gritten, “Al-Qaeda's Yemen branch announces death of leader Khalid Batarfi,” BBC News, March 11, 2024, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68533649; “New Leader for Al-Qaeda’s Infamous but Struggling Yemen Branch,” Defense Post, March 27, 2024, https://www.thedefensepost.com/2024/03/27/new-leader-al-qaeda-yemen/.

Although a veteran of the movement, little is known about al-Awlaki. He served as the emir of Yemen’s Shabwah province since at least 2017.“The Yemen Trend,” DeepRoot Consulting, June 1, 2017, https://www.deeproot.consulting/ar/publications/16/download. He has reportedly served on AQAP’s shura council, the group’s primary decision-making body, since 2015. “What Next for Al-Qaeda in Yemen after Leader Batarfi’s Death?,” Dimensions Center, March 14, 2024, https://www.dimensionscenter.net/en/%D9%85%D8%A7-%D8%AA%D8%A3%D8%AB%D9%8A%D8%B1-%D9%88%D9%81%D8%A7%D8%A9-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B7%D8%B1%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%A6%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AA%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%8A%D9%85%D8%9F. His surname suggests that he hails from the Awlaki tribe, a notorious clan that boasts members such as the late Anwar al-Awlaki, a longtime cleric, propagandist, and operative for AQAP who helped found AQAP’s Inspire magazine. Bill Roggio and Caleb Weiss, “Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula names new emir; U.S. has $6 million bounty on his head,” Long War Journal, March 11, 2024, https://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2024/03/al-qaeda-in-the-arabian-peninsula-names-new-emir-u-s-has-6-million-bounty-on-his-head.php.

On November 7, 2019, the U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice Program offered a reward of $6 million for information leading to the identification or arrest of al-Awlaki.“Reward Offers for Information on Senior Leaders of al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula,” U.S. Department of State, November 7, 2019, https://2017-2021-translations.state.gov/2019/11/07/reward-offers-for-information-on-senior-leaders-of-al-qaida-in-the-arabian-peninsula/.

In a March 2021 report, the U.N. Security Council noted that al-Awlaki served as the group’s second-in-command. However, the report also claimed that al-Awlaki had beenkilled in an operation in Yemen’s Ghayda City in October 2020.“Letter dated 21 January 2021 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities addressed to the President of the Security Council,” U.N. Security Council, February 3, 2021, https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n21/000/98/pdf/n2100098.pdf. On March 11, 2024, AQAP released a video announcing the death of AQAP emir Khalid Batarfi, though AQAP did not reveal the cause of his death. In the same statement, AQAP announced al-Awlaki as Batarfi’s successor. David Gritten, “Al-Qaeda’s Yemen branch announces death of leader Khalid Batarfi,” BBC News, March 11, 2024, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68533649. Al-Awlaki’s leadership circle includes Ibrahim al-Banna, AQAP’s chief of security, and Ibrahim al-Qosi, a prominent propagandist and former associate of Osama bin Laden.“Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al-Qosi,” Rewards for Justice, accessed August 27, 2024, https://rewardsforjustice.net/rewards/ibrahim-ahmed-mahmoud-al-qosi/; “Ibrahim al-Banna,” Rewards for Justice, accessed August 27, 2024, https://rewardsforjustice.net/rewards/ibrahim-al-banna/.

Regional scholars predicted that al-Awlaki’s appointment would reenergize the group, which, according to the United Nations, has faced serious setbacks due to persistent leadership losses and increased counterterrorism operations in the region. “Letter dated 24 July 2023 from the Chair of the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities addressed to the President of the Security Council,” United Nations, July 25, 2023, https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/4016440?ln=en&v=pdf. As of his appointment, al-Awlaki purportedly maintained good relations with tribal elders in his home region of Shabwah, which could prove beneficial when rebuilding strongholds throughout the country.“New Leader for Al-Qaeda’s Infamous but Struggling Yemen Branch,” Defense Post, March 27, 2024, https://www.thedefensepost.com/2024/03/27/new-leader-al-qaeda-yemen/.