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. It allows a small number of covert and dispersed individuals to inflict disproportionate damage on a much stronger adversary. Aqim releases video of swiss missionary kidnapped in mali. 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 217 video shows a woman her head covered by a black. The propaganda actions of al qaeda in the islamic maghreb article pdf available in terrorism and political violence 231. Aqim operates on a budget comparable to that of a small pharmaceutical.
Al qaeda also retains a small but possibly growing presence in afghanistan. Pdf, while enabling al qaeda to burnish its international credentials and, potentially, access a region. Two al qaeda affiliates, al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap, and al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, quickly issued a joint statement eulogizing al masri. The sahel is the transitional zone between northern africa and subsaharan africa. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb council on foreign relations. The year of jamaah the hope of the ummah arabic original pdf. The united states faces an important strategic question in northwest africa. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim counter extremism. 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. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb financial assessment december 2017. 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. Libya is in a parlous state and her neighbours and allies are deeply concerned for the stability of the region. The evolving threat of al qaeda in the islamic maghreb.
Ansari africa center of the atlantic council, washington, d. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb signs and symbols of cults. The narrative landscape of al qaeda in the islamic maghreb valentina bartolucci steven r. By 2012 al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim had become the primary source of income for the al qaeda. Al qaeda s 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. 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. These books, written by marighella, have had more influence on recent revolutionary terrorism than any other set of theories. May 30, 2018 insurgencies in iraq, afghanistan, syria, yemen and elsewhere the majority linked to al qaeda are in the news on an almost daily basis. Text andor other creative content from this version of edwin dyer was copied or moved into al qaeda organization in the islamic maghreb with this edit on 20120103. Alqaeda in the islamic maghrib militant group britannica. Al qaedas branch in africa makes a lethal comeback the new.
To that end, it is currently engaged in an antigovernment campaign. 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. In his second book, organizational behavior profile. Al qaeda is setting conditions in the sahel that will threaten us and european interests. Today these groups are waging jihad, killing thousands in their drives to establish islamic rule under shariah law this development didnt just happen. Between war and terrorism 363 francois gere 16 the united states confronting terrorism 398 arnaud blin 17 terrorism in southeast asiathreat and response 420 rohan. The evolving threat of al qaeda in the islamic maghreb by. Using crime to advance salafist goals, secure safe havens, and acquire international reach leaders. Each report in the briefing book is published with a listing of affiliated designees for each group, linked on the appendices page.
Al qaedah in the islamic maghreb praise be to allah, who said in his holy book. 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. The former pages talk page can be accessed at talk. Following is a transcript of audio responses to questions from the new york times for abdelmalek droukdal, the leader of al qaeda in the islamic maghreb. Alqaeda organization in the islamic maghreb simple. This lowlevel series of guerrilla conflicts is widespread and sporadic, covering an area as vast as europe. Media in category al qaeda in the islamic maghreb the following 15 files are in this category, out of 15 total.
Arabian peninsula and al qaeda in the islamic maghreb is a new and important development and is also a troubling development. The colonial influences on africa are a longstanding cause of the focus of organizations such as aqim on western and european interests. Most of the world thinks it is a takfiri and terrorist organization members of al qaeda have performed many acts of terrorism. Sep 22, 2012 al qaeda in the islamic maghreb, previously considered a weak part of al qaeda, is now seen as a force in africa. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim and related groups.
Bruce riedel provides a history of the group and its actions in places like libya. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb and boko haram are both renewing. Al qaeda and affiliates congressional research service 25. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb signs and symbols of. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb mapping militant organizations. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim and related groups overview aqim, a u. Alqaeda organization in the islamic maghreb simple english. Johan gustafsson, a swede kidnapped at gunpoint in timbuktu, mali, by al qaeda in the islamic maghreb in 2011 and recently. The geographical space which basically includes tunisia, algeria, and morocco and is currently called arabian maghreb. As the group sought recognition from al qaeda s leaders, it became more active outside algeria, channeling fighters to the iraq war and launching an attack on a military post in mauritania.
Pdf terrorist learning in context the case of al qaeda. 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. 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. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb the new york times. The alqaeda organization in the islamic maghreb is an islamic organisation which has its roots in algeria.
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. The narrative landscape of alqaeda in the islamic maghreb. By 2012 al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim had become the primary source of income for the al qaeda network tobacco many groups engage in legitimate business activities to raise and distribute money navias, 2002. Al qaeda has issued its latest edition of inspire magazine, inspire 17. Former hostage held by al qaeda describes 6year ordeal in the sahara. 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. Insurgencies in iraq, afghanistan, syria, yemen and elsewhere the majority linked to al qaeda are in the news on an almost daily basis. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is a jihadist terrorist group based in north africa. Not the same as in 2001 not necessarily connected by formal networks defined by common purpose and common experiences al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim leaders are part of al qaeda core leadership, with decades worth of common history and experiences. Propaganda actions of al qaeda in the islamic maghreb 81 downloaded by. Its operations seem to be part of localized fighting, and its attacks remain below the threshold for a us or western response. Terrorist learning in context the case of al qaeda in the islamic maghreb article pdf available in critical studies on terrorism april 2019 with 45 reads how we measure reads.
During the last decade, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim managed to survive despite suffering four major fragmentations. Jul 14, 2011 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. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb terror trends bulletin. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is an islamic militant organization evolved from the algerian and combat gspc. The islamic state militant group isis faces total defeat in the middle east, but al qaeda may once again rise from its ashes. 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. And do not dispute and thus lose courage and then your strength would depart. In particular, inspire 17 features the emir of al qaeda in the islamic maghreb, abu musab abdel al wadoud. 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 branches of alqaeda in the arab world. Introduction cyber warfare is a natural arena for al qaeda. Apr 24, 20 al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim carries a complicated history of terrorist violence in northern africa. Alqaedah in the islamic maghreb the year of jamaah.
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. While senior al qaeda figures reportedly remain based in pakistan, the network includes a number of affiliates across the middle east and africa including al qaeda in the arabian peninsula aqap, al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim, and al shabaab. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is a salafijihadist militant group and u. An interview with abdelmalek droukdal the new york times. 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. It has since evolved and expanded across the sahel. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim and al murabitoun. 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. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim and al murabitoun pdf version also available for download. The leader of hizbul islam, sheikh hassan aweys, who is on the u. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb, or aqim, developed from earlier jihadist groups with their roots in algerias brutal civil war of the 1990s.
Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is a salafijihadist militant group and u. Aqap and aqim eulogize zawahiri deputy abu al khayr al masri, site intelligence group, march 2, 2017. The group traces its provenance to algerias civil war in the 1990s, and has in the past decade become an alqaeda affiliate with regional ambitions. The group traces its provenance to algerias civil war in the 1990s and has in the past decade become an alqaeda affiliate with regional ambitions. Mar 16, 2016 al qaeda in the islamic maghreb has had international ambitions since the central leadership of al qaeda bestowed member status on it in 2006. The ongoing evolution of al qaeda in the islamic maghreb by j.
Exiled by the saudi regime, and later stripped of his citizenship in 1994, bin laden left afghanistan and set up operations in sudan, with the united states in his sights as. In english they were sometimes referred to as group for call and combat. In announcing this union, al zawahiri established the region of the islamic maghreb as a priority for the global islamic jihad. In 2006 droukdel announced that the gspc had merged with al qaeda, and in 2007 the organization changed its name to al qaeda in the islamic maghrib aqim. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim is a jihadist terrorist group based in north africa. 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. The magazine is published by the media arm of al qaeda in the arabian peninsula, but it covers al qaeda operations worldwide. Gspcalqaeda in islamic maghreb, lexpedition du martyr soheib, 26 jumada al akhira 1428, 11 july 2007.
Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb aqim has released a video of a swiss missionary kidnapped almost three weeks ago in northern mali, reuters reported on wednesday. Implications for algerias regional and international relations by dario cristiani and riccardo fabiani. 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 qaeda led insurgency in iraq, thus helping to build the trust networks between al qaeda central and the maghreb based groups, culminating in the the 2007 formal. We aim to recall the most important political stops by which the islamic victory passed.
Jan 24, 20 alqaida in the islamic maghreb aqim is a salafijihadist militant group and u. The al qaeda organization in the islamic maghreb is an islamic organisation which has its roots in algeria. A brief history of the islamic maghreb history thoughts. 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. Alqaeda in the islamic maghreb archives world watch monitor. Al qaeda in the islamic maghreb pen and sword books. Aqim then carried out several large attacks against algerian state.