AQAP spies have purportedly undermined the group for years. They are routinely blamed for contributing to the targeting of AQAP leadership figures, mostly through US drone strikes. AQAP media releases in recent years have said that this is a point of real concern amongst the group. However a source close to AQAP has suggested not all of these spy hunts result in evidence of spying. Alleged individuals branded as spies have on occasion fallen foul of personal vendettas or political rivalries in the group. Individuals accused of spying are often tortured.
Spies: an enduring problem
On 27 December 2024 AQAP published a 3-page statement which was attributed to the group’s Security Committee and was branded as “clarification of security issues”. The statement included details of named individuals it claims to have executed for spying against the group. AQAP claimed it was providing details following enquiries from family members of some of the detained suspects.
AQAP provided a list of spies but insisted that the accused did not represent their families who were innocent of being involved. These individuals were alleged to have passed information to various enemies of AQAP including the US, the Yemeni government and the Houthis.
One of the accused allegedly confessed to have been involved in a US airstrike in 2002 in Marib. The statement also claimed to have executed nine members of a “cell” in al-Bayda province, claiming that the accused worked against the “Mujahadin” and that they were responsible for the killing of Muslims.
Unlike it’s rival, the Islamic State, al-Qaeda is usually more reserved about showcasing executions of those who act against the group. They also generally refrain from publicly executing hostages in the manner how synonymous with AQ’s rival Islamic State. However, AQAP has released videos that detail punishment of individuals who have acted against the organization; many of which have included graphic images of the executed.
“The Deaths of Traitors three”
In November 2024, AQAP released “The Deaths of Traitors three” outlining the story of a “spy” who had allegedly been operating for UAE-backed separatists in Southern Yemen. The video contained the accused Wahab Ahmad Umar confessing to crimes against the mujahidin in exchange for financial recompense. In the video Umar confessed to have passed information to Southern Transitional Forces (STC) contacts as well as claiming to have planted an explosive targeting a member of the group. The commentary stated that the following his confession Umar’s execution was ordered by the group’s sharia committee.
Spy hunts and the capturing of spies has been a theme in AQAP media for years. In May 2022, a series called “Harvest of Spies” focused on confessions by individuals accused of contributing to US drone strikes. This series goes back as far as 2016. A further spies focused series was “Demolishing Espionage” which was published between 2018 and 2020.
A common theme of such “spy hunts” is individuals routinely being executed for their crimes against AQ. Another trend is a distinct lack of evidence of crimes other than a purported confession, which likely came under duress. These themes along with the enduring perception of a spy problem within AQAP make allegations even more concerning and raise a number of questions:
How effective are AQAP spy hunts?
Are individuals spying as they are not getting paid enough?
Is the process transparent or pre-determined as a message to strike fear against AQAP and those who work against it?
More importantly, how many of the accused were in fact innocent and executed as a result of a personal rivalry?…