To that end, it is currently engaged in an antigovernment campaign. The islamic state militant group isis faces total defeat in the middle east, but alqaeda may once again rise from its ashes. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb has reportedly appointed a new emir to oversee the jihadist groups entire saharasahel theater of operations. The narrative landscape of alqaeda in the islamic maghreb. W al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim has become the wealthiest and most active of all al qaeda affiliates, using its funds in a heartsandminds campaign aimed at the most impoverished residents of the saharasahel region. By 2012 al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim had become the primary source of income for the al qaeda network. Jihadist news alqaeda alqaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim thursday, 02 march 2017 aqap and aqim eulogize the blind sheikh, call fighters to avenge his death in american prison. Alqaida in the islamic maghreb aqim is a salafijihadist militant group and u. Al qaedas affiliate there, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, is developing capabilities that threaten american interests in west africa in a way that does not raise red flags in washington.
This document is a standalone version of the al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim case study used in the independent assessment. Ansari africa center of the atlantic council, washington, d. Since 2007, the group has professed its loyalty to osama bin laden and al qaedas senior leadership and claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks in. Qaedas senior leadership and claimed responsibility for dozens of attacks in the subregion. Salafist group for preaching and combat, algeriabased islamic militant group, active in north africa and the sahel region the organization was founded as the gspc in 1998 by a former member of the armed. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb fdds long war journal. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb calls for reconciliation. A video released by alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim on tuesday 10 jan shows a new proof of life of the swiss missionary beatrice stockly, held captive in mali. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim counter extremism. Archived pdf from the original on 24 september 2015.
Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb, long the global jihads weakest link, is now thriving across north and west africa. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb al qaedaaffiliated media shop promotes worldwide operations thomas joscelyn and caleb weiss april 11, 2020. Previously, aqim was known as the salafist group for preaching and combat gspc. In spain, italy, or france, but also in belgium and in germany in 2005 and 2006, and so on. This article details how prior to the establishment of al qaeda in the islamic maghreb agim, meghrebisthat is, algerians, moroccans, tunisians and othersmade up a significant percentage of the foreign fighters in the al qaedaled insurgency in iraq, thus helping to build the trust networks between al qaeda central and the maghrebbased groups, culminating in the the. Media experience of al qaeda in the islamic maghreb manuel r. The former pages history now serves to provide attribution for that content in the latter page, and it must not be deleted so long as the latter page exists. Text andor other creative content from this version of edwin dyer was copied or moved into alqaeda organization in the islamic maghreb with this edit on 20120103. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is an islamic militant organization evolved from the algerian and combat gspc. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, one of al qaedas official branches, posted a statement on jihadist forums on july 1 praising the islamic states recent military gains in iraq. Al qaeda is setting conditions in the sahel that will threaten us and european interests. The ongoing evolution of al qaeda in the islamic maghreb by j. The alqaeda organization in the islamic maghreb is an islamic organisation which has its roots in algeria.
This report represents a first step in that effort by surfacing and articulating six critical aq master narratives and detailing how those master narratives are used by two case study aq affiliates. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is a salafijihadist militant group. Pdf, while enabling alqaeda to burnish its international credentials and. Insurgencies in iraq, afghanistan, syria, yemen and elsewhere the majority linked to al qaeda are in the news on an almost daily basis. Aqims evolution and the us policy response rand corporation. The narrative landscape of alqaeda in the islamic maghreb valentina bartolucci steven r.
This report evaluates the strengths and weaknesses demonstrated by al qaeda in the islamic maghreb during 2009 compared to the previous few years. The evolution from algerian islamism to transnational terror, african journal of political science and international relations, december 2008, p. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb center for strategic and. Alqaeda in the land of the islamic maghreb aqim after the gspc officially merged with alqaida aq in september 2006 the organization became known as alqaida in the islamic maghreb aqim. As a formal al qaeda affiliate, the group is dedicated to dismantling regional governments and implementing sharia islamic law in areas where it operates, primarily in algeria, mali, mauritania, libya, tunisia, and niger. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb terror trends bulletin. Thabat, an alqaedaaffiliated media outfit, has released a series of infographics that are intended to highlight the groups global reach and resiliency. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is a salafijihadist militant group and u.
Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, also sometimes referred to as al qaeda in the lands of the islamic maghreb aqlim, is an algerianbased salafijihadist organization that became affiliated with osama bin ladens al qaeda aq in 2006. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim and related groups. In english they were sometimes referred to as group for call and combat. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb archives world watch monitor. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, sometimes referred to as al qaeda in the lands of the islamc maghreb aqlim, is an algerian salafijihadist organization that joined al qaeda aq in 2006. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb council on foreign relations. They are armed, and were called salafist group for preaching and combat french. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is a particularly dangerous regional alqaeda branch comprising some 5,000 to 10,000 fighters deployed in an. Aqim also calls for reconciliation between the isis and rival jihadist groups in syria.
Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim emerged from a decadeslong militant islamist tradition in algeria. The unification between the al murabitoun organization. But very little surfaces about a festering insurgency that has been on the go for six years in west africa under the acronym of aqim, or al qaeda in the islamic maghreb. Cna is publishing each of the eight case studies separately for the convenience of analysts and others who may have a regional or functional focus that corresponds to a specific case study. The sahel is the transitional zone between northern africa and subsaharan africa. Johan gustafsson, a swede kidnapped at gunpoint in timbuktu, mali, by al qaeda in. The group was founded by hassan hattab, who was a member of the armed islamic group of algeria. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqiman algerian jihadi group that pledged allegiance to osama bin laden in 2006garnered worldwide media exposure after simultaneous attacks in december 2007 on the united nations building and the constitutional court in algiers. Today these groups are waging jihad, killing thousands in their drives to establish islamic rule under shariah law this development didnt just happen. It has 300400 members and is one of the best organized terrorist groups in the world. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is an algerian salafijihadist militant organization operating in the african sahel region. Alqaeda in the islamic maghrib militant group britannica. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim emerged from a decadeslong mili. Read all the latest news, breaking stories, top headlines, opinion, pictures and videos about alqaeda in the islamic maghreb from nigeria and the world on today.
Many americans first became familiar with aqim when media reports linked it loosely to the attacks. Al qaedas branch in africa makes a lethal comeback the. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb has had international ambitions since the central leadership of al qaeda bestowed member status on it in 2006. Al qaeda leaders are no longer necessarily connected by formal networks and many operate outside of any formal affiliation to the. Using crime to advance salafist goals, secure safe havens, and acquire international reach leaders. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb carnegie endowment for. The evolving threat of al qaeda in the islamic maghreb ndu press.
Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb the new york times. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is a salafijihadist militant group and u. The alqaida in the islamic maghreb aqim is a terrorist organization and part of alqaeda. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, launched in january 2007, is the most recently established franchise of osama bin ladens jihadi network, and it is also the only one to have so far escaped the decline and crisis of the other. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb cisac, stanford university. The 217 video shows a woman her head covered by a black. Gray and erik stockham, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim poses the greatest immediate threat of transnational terrorism in northwest africa and is escalating its attacks against regional and western interests. The move is likely part of an apparent effort by the north african al qaeda franchise to heighten security precautions in anticipation of several possible challenges to its hold on northern mali.
Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, launched in january 2007, is the most recently established franchise of osama bin ladens jihadi network, and it is also the only one to have so far escaped the decline and crisis of the other. Qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is one such affiliate. On september 11, 2001, the groups al shabaab, boko haram, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb, ansar al shariah and the islamic state were not just unheard ofthey didnt even exist. Degrading al qaeda leadership is central to american counterterrorism strategy, but the leaders today are not the same as they were in 2001. Aqim operates on a budget comparable to that of a small. Toney, is a compelling scientific study focused on a single terrorist organization, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim. Implications for algerias regional and international relations by dario cristiani and riccardo fabiani.
International institute for counter terrorism ict additional resources are available on the ict website. Many groups engage in legitimate business activities to raise and distribute money navias, 2002. Arabian peninsula and al qaeda in the islamic maghreb is a new and important development and is also a troubling development. Aqim, based in algeria, is one of the most successful of the al qaeda offshoots, with an annual operating budget believed to be in the. Former hostage held by al qaeda describes 6year ordeal in the sahara. Alqaeda organization in the islamic maghreb simple.