The Ongoing Insurgency in the Maghreb

 Location: The Maghreb region is located in Northern Africa, comprising Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, and Tunisia. It also includes some parts of Western Sahara that are considered Moroccan territories, as well as the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla.

Background: The insurgency in the Maghreb is an ongoing conflict that began with the start of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM. Before examining the AQIM as it is in its current state, it is important to realize it’s extensive background. The origins of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb extend back far, to an Islamic movement known as the Armed Islamic Group, or GIA. GIA vehemently was in opposition of the secular leadership of Algeria in the late 90s, resulting in an insurrection, which officially began in 1992, when the Algerian government, influenced by the French, canceled elections when it appeared as though Islamic leaders would be put into power. GIA implemented numerous tactics, especially tactics of intimidation, examples of this being beheadings and kidnappings. Numerous major leaders broke away from the GIA in the late 90s, forming a group known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat, or GSPC, essentially making the Armed Islamic Group obsolete. On September 11, 2006, the GSPC announced an official union with Al Qaeda, and rebranded themselves as Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM. 

Relevancy: The insurgency in the Maghreb is undoubtedly relevant as there have been over one thousand casualties in 2020 alone.

What’s happening now: The AQIM has a few goals, some still inline with the original beliefs of the GIA. They are certainly still upset with post Algerian civil war decisions, and they hate the French for backing and influencing Algeria in these decisions.. “According to West Point’s Combating Terrorism Center, AQIM’s objectives include ridding North Africa of Western influence; overthrowing governments deemed apostate, including those of Algeria, Libya, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia; and installing fundamentalist regimes based on sharia.” Clearly, their objectives are now more widespread and general than the original goals of the GIA and GSPC. They are now no longer focused on simply the overthrowing of the Algerian government, rather, their objective is to rid The Maghreb and numerous surrounding states and territories of western influence completely, instituting a regime change, implementing a government conforming to Sharia law. Furthermore, they are also attempting to take over certain territories controlled by state backed governmental actors.

Tactics of the AQIM: Tactically, the AQIM is vicious and unhinged. They employ the use of kidnappings, bombings, torture, as well as other general intimidation tactics within the community. Since the start of this conflict, there have been thousands of casualties. 

Sources:

Boeke, Sergei. “Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb: Terrorism, Insurgency, or Organized Crime?” Taylor & Francis, 5 Aug. 2016, www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09592318.2016.1208280.

Boukhars, Anouar. “The Paradox of Modern Jihadi Insurgencies: The Case of the Sahel and Maghreb.” Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 15 July 2018, carnegieendowment.org/2018/07/15/paradox-of-modern-jihadi-insurgencies-case-of-sahel-and-maghreb-pub-76875.

Group, Crisis. “How the Islamic State Rose, Fell and Could Rise Again in the Maghreb.” Crisis Group, International Crisis Group, 15 Jan. 2018, www.crisisgroup.org/middle-east-north-africa/north-africa/178-how-islamic-state-rose-fell-and-could-rise-again-maghreb.

Kustusch, Timothy. “AQIM's Funding Sources – Kidnapping, Ransom, and Drug Running by Gangster Jihadists.” 361Security, 28 Nov. 2012, www.361security.com/analysis/aqims-funding-sources-kidnapping-ransom-and-drug-running-by-gangster-jihadists.

Laub, Zachary, and Jonathan Masters. “Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.” Council on Foreign Relations, Council on Foreign Relations, 27 Mar. 2015, www.cfr.org/backgrounder/al-qaeda-islamic-maghreb.

Mapping Militant Organizations.  Stanford University. Last Modified July 2018 <https://internal.fsi.stanford.edu/content/mmp-al-qaeda-islamic-maghreb>

“Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC).” The Investigative Project on Terrorism, www.investigativeproject.org/profile/143/salafist-group-for-preaching-and-combat-gspc.

Sawe, Benjamin Elisha. “Where Is The Maghreb Region In Africa?” WorldAtlas, WorldAtlas, 14 Feb. 2018, www.worldatlas.com/articles/where-is-the-maghreb-region-in-africa.html.

Sawe, Benjamin Elisha. “Which Countries Are Located In The Maghreb Region?” WorldAtlas, WorldAtlas, 7 Jan. 2019, www.worldatlas.com/articles/which-countries-are-located-in-the-maghreb-region.html.