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.
Sofiane Ben Goumo was listed on 3 September 2015 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 to” and “recruiting for” the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (QDe.011), the Organization of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (QDe.014), Ansar al-Shari’a in Tunisia (AAS-T) (QDe.143), Ansar al Charia Derna (QDe.145) and Ansar al Charia Benghazi (QDe.146).
Sofiane Ben Goumo is a veteran of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group (QDe.011) who also fought in Afghanistan and trained in a camp led by Usama bin Laden (deceased). After being jailed for his terrorist activities in Afghanistan, he was released from Libyan Abu Salim jail in 2010. At the end of 2011, he started to create Ansar al Charia Derna (QDe.145). He is the current leader of Ansar al Charia Derna and, as such, has overall responsibility for the group’s actions.
Ansar al Charia Derna, formed in early 2012, is linked to the Organization of Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (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 has been involved in many terrorist attacks against Libyan security forces and foreign interests in Libya, such as the attacks 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.
Sofiane Ben Goumo remains in close relationship with other listed individuals such as Seiffallah ben Hassine (QDi.333), the leader of AAS-T.