Africa: the al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb (part 1)

The al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb is one of the most interesting and decisive exemplifications of the evolution of a jihadi group from a primarily nationalistic movement to an organization that imposes its own strategic guidelines and acts in accordance with the influence of the pan-Islamic al-Qaeda structure. Despite the fact that terrorist acts committed up to now had been carried out within Algerian borders, significant indications of change imply the adoption of a new al-Qaeda strategy: the employment of tactics and techniques reminiscent of the Iraqi theatre, the resolve to hit even c.d. soft targets (such as employees and facilities owned by western companies), support to jihadi activities in sensitive combat zones (such as Chechnya and Iraq), the consideration of Europe, not merely as an area for recruitment and a source of logistical-financial support, but also as combat territory (profiting from a considerable network of Maghrebi on the continent), and the use of internet as a sounding board to spread militant activity propaganda.

3453 Words

Emilio Palmieri

(10 December 2007)