Xhemail Rexhepi

Xhemail Rexhepi, also known as Commander Shqiponja, was a commander of the National Liberation Army (NLA).

Xhemail Rexhepi
Nickname(s)	"Commander Shqiponja"
Died	(2015-07-23)23 July 2015 Kumanovo, Macedonia
Allegiance	National Liberation Army
Rank	Commander
Unit	Special Unit "Shqiponjat"

Rexhepi became a member of the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI).^[1] In September 2014, Rexhepi announced his candidacy to become president of DUI's branch in Kumanovo.^[2] He was shot and killed in a cafe in Kumanovo's Bedinje neighborhood on 23 July 2015.^[3] Two other persons who were with him were wounded.^[4] Bajram Limani, who was acting head of DUI in Kumanovo, told Alsat that he and his supporters acted in self-defense and had been attacked by Rexhepi's group in his office, and surrendered to the police. DUI condemned the killing.^[1] In 2017, the Kumanovo court sentenced Limani to 7 years and 3 months in prison, 5 years for murder, and 2 years and 3 months for illegal possession of weapons. However, he became a fugitive.^[2]