In accordance with paragraph 13 of resolution 1822 (2008) and subsequent related resolutions, the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee makes accessible a narrative summary of reasons for the listing for individuals, groups, undertakings and entities included in the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List.
Ansar al Charia Derna was listed on 19 November 2014 pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 4 of resolution 2161 (2014) as being associated with Al-Qaida for “participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing, or perpetrating of acts or activities by, in conjunction with, under the name of, on behalf of, or in support of”, “supplying, selling or transferring arms and related materiel” “recruiting for” and “otherwise supporting acts or activities of” the Organization of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (QDe.014), Ansar al-Shari’a in Tunisia (AAS-T) (QDe.143) and Ansar al Charia Benghazi (QDe.146).
Ansar al Charia Derna was formed in early 2012. This group is linked to the Organization of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) (QDe.014), and to Ansar al-Shari’a in Tunisia (AAS-T) (QDe.143), with which it has worked closely. It also operates in close cooperation with Ansar al Charia Benghazi (QDe.146).
Ansar al Charia Derna is led by Sofiane Ben Goumo (QDi.355), an Afghanistan veteran who trained in a camp operated by Usama bin Laden (deceased), and is associated with the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (QDe.011).
Ansar al Charia Derna took part, alongside Ansar al Charia Benghazi, in the attack against the Consulate of the United States in Benghazi, causing the death of four American citizens, including the Ambassador of the United States to Libya, J. Christopher Stevens.
Ansar al Charia Derna maintains several terrorist training camps in Derna, Libya, and in the region of Jebel Akhdar, Libya, mainly for the benefit of Al-Qaida (QDe.004) associated groups in Syria and in Iraq.
Between 2011 and 2014, Ansar al Charia Derna has undertaken many attacks against security forces in the region of Derna. However, Ansar al Charia Derna has never claimed responsibility for those attacks.
Ansar al Charia Derna is believed to have cooperated with Ansar al Charia Benghazi in the preparation of the first suicide attacks in Libya on 22 December 2013 in Barsis, near Benghazi. Since July 2014, members of Ansar al Charia Derna have been launching attacks, alongside Ansar al Charia Benghazi, against Libyan security forces. AQIM has supported these attacks.
In October 2014 Ansar al Charia Derna publicly pledged allegiance to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, listed as Al-Qaida in Iraq (QDe.115).