Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb | |
---|---|
تنظيم القاعدة في بلاد المغرب الإسلامي Participant in Insurgency in the Maghreb (2002–present) and the Global War on Terrorism |
|
Active | 2007 | –present
Ideology | |
Groups | |
Leaders | Abdelmalek Droukdel |
Headquarters | Kabylie Mountains |
Area of operations |
The Maghreb and the Sahel
|
Strength | 800-1,000+ |
Part of | Al-Qaeda |
Originated as | Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (1998–2007) |
Allies |
|
Opponents |
State opponents Non-State Opponents |
Battles and wars |
The Maghreb and the Sahel
State opponents
Non-State Opponents
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (Arabic: تنظيم القاعدة في بلاد المغرب الإسلامي, translit. Tanẓīm al-Qā‘idah fī Bilād al-Maghrib al-Islāmī), or AQIM, is an Islamist militant organization which aims to overthrow the Algerian government and institute an Islamic state. To that end, it is currently engaged in an anti-government campaign.
The group originated as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC). It has since declared its intention to attack European (including Spanish and French) and American targets. The group has been designated a terrorist organization by the United Nations, Australia, Canada, Russia, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Membership is mostly drawn from the Algerian and local Saharan communities (such as the Tuaregs and Berabiche tribal clans of Mali), as well as Moroccans from city suburbs of the North African country. The leadership are mainly Algerians. The group has also been suspected of having links with the Horn of Africa-based militant group Al-Shabaab.