Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb center for strategic and. Libya is in a parlous state and her neighbours and allies are deeply concerned for the stability of the region. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb fdds long war journal. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim and related groups aqim, a u. Former hostage held by al qaeda describes 6year ordeal in the sahara. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb archives world watch monitor. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim counter extremism. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb carnegie endowment for. Aqim then carried out several large attacks against algerian state. Thabat, an alqaedaaffiliated media outfit, has released a series of infographics that are. Alqaida in the islamic maghreb aqim is a salafijihadist militant group and u.
Undergoverned spaces in west africa and the maghreb created an environment in which aqim established safe havens. Two alqaeda affiliates, alqaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap, and alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, quickly issued a joint statement eulogizing almasri. The lessons that alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim has learnt after years of activity in the sahel have crystallised in the creation of. Jan,03,2009, in the name of allah the most merciful your brothers in the media section of alqaeda in the islamic maghreb land are pleased to present you. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is al qaedas premier affiliate in northern and western africa. 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.
Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is a salafijihadist militant group and u. 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. During the last decade, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim managed to survive despite suffering four major fragmentations. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb or aqim, is an islamist militant organization of alqaeda which aims to overthrow the algerian government and institute an.
After four days of negotiations failed, algerian forces storm the facility, killing and driving out the militant. Pdf, while enabling alqaeda to burnish its international credentials and, potentially, access a region. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim and related groups overview aqim, a u. Introduction 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. Gray and erik stockham, alqaeda in the islamic maghreb. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is an algerian salafijihadist militant organization operating in the african sahel region. Implications for algerias regional and international relations by dario cristiani and riccardo fabiani.
Introduction 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. 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. 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. As a formal alqaeda 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, established in january 2007, is the latest in a long line of algerian. The alqaida in the islamic maghreb aqim is a terrorist organization and part of alqaeda. In spain, italy, or france, but also in belgium and in germany in 2005 and 2006, and so on. Using crime to advance salafist goals, secure safe havens, and acquire international reach leaders. In his second book, organizational behavior profile. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb says mokhtar belmokhtar is. People were trapped inside a turkish restaurant as suspected alqaeda affiliated jihadis opened fire. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, an official branch of al qaeda, has posted a statement on twitter saying that mokhtar belmokhtar, a veteran jihadist, is alive and well. Terrorist learning in context the case of al qaeda in the islamic maghreb, critical studies on terrorism, doi.
Analysis of the spread of al qaeda into west africa. The islamic state militant group isis faces total defeat in the middle east, but alqaeda. They want to overthrow the algerian government and put an islamic. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb al qaedaaffiliated media shop promotes worldwide operations thomas joscelyn and caleb weiss april 11, 2020. Alqaeda organization in the islamic maghreb simple. Al qaeda electronic announced its formation as a new branch of al qaeda focused on cyberwarfare in a brief video on january 20, 2015. The evolution from algerian islamism to transnational terror, african journal of political science and international relations, december 2008, p. It originally formed from the algerian salafist group for preaching and combat. 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. The narrative landscape of alqaeda in the islamic maghreb. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb seize control of a natural gas plant in eastern algeria, tying up dozens of western workers and planting explosives throughout the facility. In english they were sometimes referred to as group for call and combat. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is an amor phous, resilient, and adaptive. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim counter extremism project.
The group was founded by hassan hattab, who was a member of the armed islamic group of algeria. Pdf terrorist learning in context the case of al qaeda. The insipient civil war is leading to fears that a connection between libyan islamists and isis in iraq, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb, al shabaab in somalia and kenya and boko haram in nigeria is a likely and undesirable outcome. Previously, aqim was known as the salafist group for preaching and combat gspc. In the past six months, alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim have executed two deadly, wellcoordinated attacks in mali and burkina fasos respective capitals of bamako and ouagadougou. The alqaeda organization in the islamic maghreb is an islamic organisation which has its roots in algeria. 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 aqim emerged from a decadeslong militant islamist tradition in algeria. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is a jihadist terrorist group based in north africa. Pdf after incurring significant losses during frances 20 operation serval in mali, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is back. Johan gustafsson, a swede kidnapped at gunpoint in timbuktu, mali, by al qaeda in the islamic maghreb in 2011 and recently. The narrative landscape of alqaeda in the islamic maghreb valentina bartolucci steven r.
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. Through the case study of aqim, the goal of this paper is to contribute theoretically and empirically to the literature on terrorism by explaining the fragmentation of resilient jihadist groups. Al qaeda has issued its latest edition of inspire magazine, inspire 17. 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 2007 formal. In particular, inspire 17 features the emir of al qaeda in the islamic maghreb, abu musab abdel alwadoud. The magazine is published by the media arm of al qaeda in the arabian peninsula, but it covers al qaeda operations worldwide. Aqap and aqim eulogize zawahiri deputy abu alkhayr almasri, site intelligence group, march 2, 2017. Adopting the famous name may have enhanced aqims legitimacy among extremists and facilitated recruitment pdf, while enabling alqaeda. Attacks from alqaeda in the islamic maghreb will likely. But very little surfaces about a festering insurgency that has been on the go for six years in west africa under the acronym of. Insurgencies in iraq, afghanistan, syria, yemen and elsewhere the majority linked to al qaeda are in the news on an almost daily basis. To that end, it is currently engaged in an antigovernment campaign. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim and related groups.
Aqims leader reportedly remains in algeria, but the groups center of gravity has. The formation of al qaeda in the islamic maghreb was officially announced on sept. This blessed union, as zawahiri put it, vowed to be a bone in the throat of the american and french crusaders and. Pages in category al qaeda in the islamic maghreb the following 9 pages are in this category, out of 9 total. Areas of interest where aqim al qaida in the islamic maghreb is mostly used. 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. 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. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb cisac, stanford university. It has 300400 members and is one of the best organized terrorist groups in the world. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb council on foreign relations.
The 217 video shows a woman her head covered by a black. 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 maghrib militant group britannica. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb terror trends bulletin. Sergei boeke institute of security and global affairs, eiden l university, the netherlands abstract after incurring significant losses during frances 20 operation serval in mali, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is back. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb the new york times.
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