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.
Mohamed Lahbous was listed on 24 October 2013 pursuant to paragraphs 2 and 3 of resolution 2083 (2012) 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 to", and "recruiting for" or otherwise supporting acts or activities of Al-Qaida or any cell, affiliate, splinter group or derivative of entities included on the Al-Qaida Sanctions List; in particular Mokhtar Belmokhtar (QDi.136), the Organization of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) (QDe.014) and the Mouvement pour L’Unification et le Jihad en Afrique de l’Ouest (MUJAO) (QDe.134).
Mohamed Lahbous is a member of the Mouvement pour L’Unification et le Jihad en Afrique de l’Ouest (MUJAO) (QDe.134). He is involved in arms trading and drug trafficking in North and West Africa and maintains relations with the Organization of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) (QDe.014) and with Mokhtar Belmokhtar (QDi.136).
Lahbous was implicated in the abduction of three foreign humanitarian workers in the region of Tindouf, Algeria, on 22 October 2011 and in the abduction of seven Algerian diplomats from the Algerian Consulate in Gao, Mali, on 5 April 2012.
He was implicated in the bomb attacks against the Algerian Gendarmerie Nationale offices in Ouargla on 3 February 2012 and in Tamanrasset on 29 June 2012.
On 16 January 2013, Lahbous participated in the attack on the In Amenas gas project and its site facilities at Tiguentourine, Algeria. Reportedly deceased as of 14 February 2018.