The death of Osama bin Laden, in addition to being a symbol, gave a blow to the finances of the Al-Qaeda core which is fighting for survival in Pakistani-Afghan mountains, say several sources, reported AFP. Without is historical leader, whose legendary name drew contributions of rich families from the Gulf region, the Central al-Qaeda is facing serious funding problems and has revised down its plans, the sources added. “When Osama lived, Al-Qaeda had more money”, said an anonymous security officer in Peshawar, the biggest city in northwest Pakistan. “Before his death, we found that a dispute had arisen between him and (his successor Egyptian Ayman) Al Zawahiri about the money. Osama access to the funds and Al Zawahiri was the operational leader”.
Now at top Al-Qaeda, Ayman Al Zawahiri has not and will not have influence or connections to raise funds from Gulf contributors and the finances of Al-Qaeda dropped sharply. “He is Egyptian and he plays an important role”, says Riad Kahwaji, director of the military analysis Institute for Middle East and Gulf (INEGMA – Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis) a think tank in Dubai. “He has no prestige, confidence, connections. But he still needs to be a leader. In Gulf, family and tribal ties are fundamental. Bin Laden’s death was a catastrophe for Al-Qaeda finance “.
When the anti-Soviet jihad in Afghanistan started, bin Laden began to collect funds from Gulf countries and was making tours during which he was expected everywhere as a hero. According to a Pakistani Taliban source interviewed by AFP in Karachi, Gulf donors continue to fund the anti-American jihad, but the Afghan Taliban are the preferred beneficiaries as opposed to Al-Qaeda. Another Taliban source, interviewed in Peshawar ensure that Al-Qaeda “still has money but it focuses on Afghanistan. It used to donate money to the Pakistani Taliban, but now it gives them money just to survive”.
Stories about jihad volunteers who returned to Pakistani tribal area in Waziristan indicate Al-Qaeda cells less numerous, disorganized, disoriented, lacking money and terrorized by rockets launched by American drones. “They were seriously affected: not only because of financial problems but also because of unmanned aircraft attacks, lack of leadership and low morale”, says from its New York office, Richard Barrett, coordinator of the United Nations team monitoring the activities of Al-Qaeda.
“Al-Qaeda has been so compromised by the lack of a role played in the profound changes that have affected the Arab world, that is no longer considered as a beneficiary of interest to donors”, adds Barrett, former leader of the anti-terrorist branch of the British M16 services. Riad Kahwaji adds: “People who have financially supported Al-Qaeda realized that Islamic movements can now send members to parliament or to the government. Donors do not need to support a renegade group who lives thousands of miles away to change things”. For Richard Barrett, Al-Qaeda Central is the victim of unfortunate circumstances”. The death of bin Laden, the pressure on surviving leaders, lack of influence and capacity to act globally and lack of imagination and inspiration. All this affects their finances and support that they might still have”.
