Bassem Ghanimi (Jihadi Militant, Tunisia)

• Full name: Bassem Ben Mabrouk Ben Mohammed Salah Ghanimi
• Pseudonym: Abu Sakhr al-Zakmout
• Alternatives: Bassam Ghimi
• Location: Tunisia
• Affiliation: Soldiers of the Caliphate in Tunisia [JaKI], fmr Brigade of Uqba Bin Nafa’a [KUIN], fmr Marouane M’hamdi Network [MMN]

Bassem Ghanimi (°ca 1985) was a Tunisian jihadi from Sidi Bouzid who turned to militancy in 2013 when he became a logistical operative for Marouane M’hamdi’s network.¹ The following year, Ghanimi linked up with the Brigade of Uqba Bin Nafa’a [KUIN; Katiba Uqba Ibn Nafaâ].² He took part in the Apr. 07, 2015 ambush of an army patrol near Sbeitla in which five soldiers were killed.³

Ghanimi is thought to have switched loyalty to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant [DaIISh; Dawlat al-Islamiy fi-Iraq wal ash-Sham] and joined the Soldiers of the Caliphate in Tunisia [JaKI; Jund al-Khilafa fi-Ifriqiya] in the summer of 2015.⁴ Over the following years, he took part in many of the outfit’s attacks on Mounts Mghila and Salloum.⁵ Ghanimi planted landmines targeted security forces, participated in the killings of shepherds and robbed banks and houses.⁶ He is believed to have produced bombs and mines used the JaKI in some of its attacks.⁷ Ghanimi rose through the ranks and eventually became of the outfit’s most senior members.⁸

Ghanimi later joined the Hatem and Mohammed Basdouri’s splinter group.⁹ The elimination of the brothers by Tunisian security forces in May 2019, left him fairly isolated.¹⁰ On Feb. 25, 2020, Ghanimi was killed in an operation by the army on Mount Salloum.¹¹