431:, the members of the GSPC are thought to share al-Qaeda's general ideological outlook. After the deposition of Hassan Hattab, various leaders of the group pledged allegiance to al-Qaeda. Some observers have argued that the GSPC's connection to al-Qaeda was merely opportunistic, not operational. Claims of GSPC activities in Italy were disputed by other sources, who said that there is no evidence of any engagement in terrorist activities against US, European or Israeli targets: "While the GSPC ... established support networks in Europe and elsewhere, these have been limited to ancillary functions (logistics, fund-raising, propaganda), not acts of terrorism or other violence outside Algeria." Investigations in France and Britain have concluded that young Algerian immigrants sympathetic to the GSPC or al-Qaeda have taken up the name without any real connection to either group.
335:, was linked to the kidnapping of 32 European tourists in Algeria in early 2003. Other sources illustrate the involvement of the Algerian intelligence services in exaggerating the claims about terrorist threats in the Sahara, and the supposed alliance between this group and Al-Qaeda. Some of the reputation of El Para is also attributed to the Algerian government, as a possible employer, and it has been alleged that certain key events, such as kidnappings, were staged, and that there was a campaign of deception and disinformation originated by the Algerian government and perpetuated by the media.
189:
168:
146:
49:
220:
352:
438:
in Iraq were based on purported letters to
Zarqawi by GSPC leader Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud. In a September 2005 interview, Wadoud hailed Zarqawi's actions in Iraq. Like the GSPC's earlier public claims of allegiance to al-Qaeda, they are thought to be opportunistic legitimisation efforts of the GSPC's
338:
By March 2005, it was reported that the GSPC "may be prepared to give up the armed struggle in
Algeria and accept the government's reconciliation initiative." in March 2005, the group's former leader, Hassan Hattab, called on its members to accept a government amnesty under which they were offered
455:
Observers said that the region's governments have much to gain from associating local armed movements and long-established smuggling operations with al-Qaeda and the global "War on
Terrorism". In June 2005, while the "Flintlock" exercise was still underway, Mauritania asked "Western countries
451:
had become a training ground for
Islamist recruits. However, the two most important pieces of evidence of 'terrorist activity' – the tourist kidnapping of 2003 and the attack on the Mauritanian army base just as "Flintlock" got underway – have subsequently been called into question.
820:
632:
363:
Algerian officials and authorities from neighbouring countries have speculated that the GSPC may have been active outside
Algeria. These activities may relate to the GSPC's alleged long-standing involvement with smuggling,
392:
regions of northern Mali and Niger following crackdowns by
Algerian government forces in the north and south of the country since 2003. French secret services report that the group has received funding from the country of
442:
In 2005, after years of absence, the United States showed renewed military interest in the region through involvement in the "Flintlock 2005" exercise, which involved US Special Forces training soldiers from
Algeria,
816:
307:
Estimates of the number of GSPC members vary widely, from a few hundred to as many as 4,000. In
September 2003, it was reported that Hattab had been deposed as national emir of the GSPC and replaced by
296:. After an amnesty in 1999, many former GIA fighters laid down their arms, but a few remained active, including members of the GSPC. In March 2001 the GSPC was declared a Proscribed Organisation in the
801:
468:
February 2003: 32 European tourists are kidnapped. One died of heat stroke, seventeen hostages were rescued by
Algerian troops on 13 May 2003, and the remainder were released in August 2003.
640:
1033:
569:
475:, Islamic extremists ambush a police patrol, killing seven police officers and wounding three others. The assailants also seized firearms and three vehicles.
404:, have voiced doubts regarding the GSPC's capacity to carry out large-scale attacks, such as the one attributed to it in northeastern Mauritania during the "
321:
599:
343:
announced a "blessed union" between the groups in declaring France an enemy. They said they would work together against French and
American interests.
17:
798:
482:, Blida Province, armed assailants fire on five vehicles at a fake road block, killing 13 civilians, wounding one other and burning five vehicles.
690:
888:
388:, possibly to underpin the group's finances. However, recent developments seem to indicate that a splinter group may have sought refuge in the
1160:
986:
472:
312:(Sheikh Abou Ibrahim Mustapha), a 39-year-old former GIA commander who was subsequently reported to have pledged GSPC's allegiance to
718:
1155:
1124:
1098:
1072:
1195:
534:
Steinberg, Guido; Isabelle Werenfels (November 2007). "Between the 'Near' and the 'Far' Enemy: Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb".
409:
293:
1200:
1001:
967:
944:
908:
292:(GIA). He broke with the GIA in 1998, and formed the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), in protest over the
835:
920:
577:
339:
immunity from prosecution in return for laying down their arms. However, in September 2006, the top Al-Qaida leader
1180:
1165:
498:
456:
interested in combating the terrorist surge in the African Sahel to supply it with advanced military equipment."
274:
223:
847:
607:
1185:
963:
940:
904:
102:
1170:
521:
636:
573:
269:(GIA). After Hattab was ousted from the organization in 2003, the group officially pledged support for
687:
880:
1175:
905:'The Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb': The Evolving Terrorist Presence in North Africa
768:
633:"Islamism, Violence and Reform in Algeria: Turning the Page (Islamism in North Africa III)]"
1190:
317:
69:
465:
23 November 2002: group of Algerian soldiers are ambushed. Nine died and twelve were wounded.
982:
884:
435:
420:
356:
8:
715:
662:
289:
266:
209:
1128:
1102:
1076:
551:
301:
258:
412:
is an effort to improve Algeria's international standing as a credible partner in the
555:
428:
365:
119:
111:
1017:
735:
543:
413:
340:
990:
971:
959:
948:
936:
892:
824:
805:
722:
699:
694:
316:, a step which Hattab had opposed. Following the death of Sahraoui in June 2004,
238:
864:
675:
405:
309:
297:
64:
547:
1149:
486:
401:
389:
285:
262:
59:
493:, assailants attack and kill eight private security guards by unknown means.
107:
750:
688:
Interview with the Former Leader of the Salafist Group for Call and Combat
1050:
937:
General Sees Expanding Strategic Role for U.S. European Command In Africa
439:
leaders due to the lack of representation in Algeria's political sphere.
332:
738:", Terrorist Organizations, World Statesman. Retrieved 8 September 2007.
369:
751:
El Para, the Maghreb's Bin Laden – who staged the tourist kidnappings?
490:
273:, and in January 2007, the group officially changed its name to the "
524:
about increased US military focus on the Sahara region. August 2005.
1034:
Mauritanian authorities transform Lemgheity post into military base
313:
270:
172:
150:
115:
447:, Mauritania, Mali, and Chad. The United States alleged that the
444:
424:
194:
123:
48:
479:
408:" military exercise. They suspect the involvement of Algeria's
501:(AQIM), and credit for subsequent attacks were taken by AQIM.
448:
394:
381:
377:
1040:
website in Arabic 1410 gmt 22 Jun 5, BBC Monitoring Service.
985:
about the "Flintlock 2005" military exercise, 17 June 2005
716:
Interview with Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud, commander of the GSPC
219:
1002:
L'attaque contre la garnison de Lemgheity toujours à la une
533:
385:
373:
351:
725:, 26 September 2005 (globalterroralert.com website) (pdf)
570:"THE GSPC Newest Franchise in Al-Qa'ida's Global Jihad"
327:
A splinter or separate branch of Hattab's group, the
257:), was an Algerian islamist terrorist faction in the
817:
Top Algerian Islamist slams Qaeda group, urges peace
960:Africa Command Not European Command, Says Official
881:GSPC in Italy: The Forward Base of Jihad in Europe
419:Allegations of GSPC links to al-Qaeda predate the
799:Islamist Terrorism in the Sahel: Fact or Fiction?
416:, and to lure the United States into the region.
253:Groupe Salafiste pour la Prédication et le Combat
1147:
1018:Un Marocain arrêté en Mauritanie pour terrorisme
848:Deep Read: Malian tinderbox – A dangerous puzzle
736:Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC)
627:
625:
623:
621:
619:
617:
434:Similar claims of links between the GSPC and
368:, and money laundering across the borders of
753:by Salima Mellah and Jean-Baptiste Rivoire,
275:Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb
251:
1051:"BBC NEWS – Africa – Sahara hostages freed"
911:, 7 March 2007. Retrieved 8 September 2007.
324:is also reported to have headed the group.
921:Algerian terror group seeks Zarqawi's help
614:
836:"Al-Qaida joins Algerians against France"
133:thousand +10,000 Between 1998 and 2007
860:
858:
856:
829:
711:
709:
669:
527:
350:
810:
592:
410:Department of Intelligence and Security
235:Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat
35:Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat
14:
1148:
766:
746:
744:
459:
346:
853:
706:
681:
517:
515:
513:
265:, a former regional commander of the
909:Middle East Media Research Institute
789:Georges Rassi, "End of Insurgency",
767:Keenan, Jeremy (26 September 2006).
760:
639:Report. 30 July 2004. Archived from
976:
865:US targets Sahara 'terrorist haven'
741:
242:
24:
1161:Factions of the Algerian Civil War
769:"The Collapse of the Second Front"
562:
510:
25:
18:Salafist Group for Call and Combat
1212:
606:. 28 January 2007. Archived from
218:
187:
166:
144:
47:
1156:Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
1117:
1091:
1065:
1043:
1027:
1011:
995:
953:
930:
914:
897:
874:
841:
783:
728:
499:al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
320:became the leader of the GSPC.
245:), known by the French acronym
224:Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb
1196:Armed Islamic Group of Algeria
655:
576:. 2 April 2007. Archived from
497:In 2007, formed the basis for
243:الجماعة السلفية للدعوة والقتال
41:الجماعة السلفية للدعوة والقتال
13:
1:
1008:, Jeune Afrique, 16 June 2005
964:American Enterprise Institute
941:American Enterprise Institute
676:Algerian group backs al-Qaeda
504:
1201:Islamic terrorism in Algeria
355:GSPC area of operations and
288:was a regional commander of
7:
970:September 26, 2007, at the
947:September 26, 2007, at the
797:, 24 March 2005. Quoted in
757:Diplomatique, February 2005
678:, BBC News, 23 October 2003
294:GIA's massacre of civilians
10:
1217:
1022:La Libération (Casablanca)
721:December 21, 2005, at the
637:International Crisis Group
574:Combating Terrorism Center
400:Some observers, including
280:
27:Algerian terrorist faction
907:", Inquiry and Analysis,
819:, Reuters, 30 March 2006
771:. Foreign Policy in Focus
693:29 September 2007 at the
548:10.1080/13629390701622473
202:
180:
159:
137:
129:
101:
76:
55:
46:
40:
39:
34:
1181:Rebel groups in Algeria
838:, AP, 14 September 2006
665:(11, Schedule 2). 2000.
471:12 February 2004: Near
1166:Al-Qaeda allied groups
536:Mediterranean Politics
360:
318:Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud
252:
70:Abu Musab Abdel Wadoud
962:by Charles Cobb Jr.,
939:by Charles Cobb Jr.,
604:Sydney Morning Herald
354:
1186:Terrorism in Algeria
989:14 July 2005 at the
887:, 9 February 2006)
885:Jamestown Foundation
610:on 17 December 2007.
485:15 October 2006: In
436:Abu Musab Al Zarqawi
423:. As followers of a
421:September 11 attacks
357:Pan-Sahel Initiative
891:8 July 2006 at the
460:Timeline of attacks
347:International links
329:Free Salafist Group
290:Armed Islamic Group
267:Armed Islamic Group
261:founded in 1998 by
210:Armed Islamic Group
1171:Islamism in Africa
823:2007-02-17 at the
804:2012-09-26 at the
700:Ash-Sharq al-Awsat
663:Terrorism Act 2000
366:protection rackets
361:
322:Abdelmadjid Dichou
302:Terrorism Act 2000
259:Algerian Civil War
78:Dates of operation
983:DoD Press Release
883:by Kathryn Haar,
793:, as reported in
703:, 17 October 2005
580:on 14 August 2014
478:7 April 2005: In
429:Salafist jihadism
331:(GSL), headed by
231:
230:
215:Succeeded by
120:Salafist Jihadism
112:Islamic extremism
16:(Redirected from
1208:
1141:
1140:
1138:
1136:
1127:. Archived from
1121:
1115:
1114:
1112:
1110:
1101:. Archived from
1095:
1089:
1088:
1086:
1084:
1075:. Archived from
1069:
1063:
1062:
1060:
1058:
1053:. 18 August 2003
1047:
1041:
1031:
1025:
1015:
1009:
999:
993:
980:
974:
957:
951:
943:, 16 April 2004
934:
928:
918:
912:
901:
895:
878:
872:
862:
851:
845:
839:
833:
827:
814:
808:
787:
781:
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778:
776:
764:
758:
748:
739:
732:
726:
713:
704:
685:
679:
673:
667:
666:
659:
653:
652:
650:
648:
629:
612:
611:
600:"Brand al-Qaeda"
596:
590:
589:
587:
585:
566:
560:
559:
531:
525:
519:
414:War on Terrorism
341:Ayman al-Zawahri
255:
244:
222:
206:Preceded by
193:
191:
190:
171:
170:
169:
149:
148:
147:
97:
95:
89:
87:
79:
51:
42:
32:
31:
21:
1216:
1215:
1211:
1210:
1209:
1207:
1206:
1205:
1176:Jihadist groups
1146:
1145:
1144:
1134:
1132:
1131:on 2 April 2012
1125:"View Incident"
1123:
1122:
1118:
1108:
1106:
1105:on 2 April 2012
1099:"View Incident"
1097:
1096:
1092:
1082:
1080:
1079:on 2 April 2012
1073:"View Incident"
1071:
1070:
1066:
1056:
1054:
1049:
1048:
1044:
1032:
1028:
1016:
1012:
1000:
996:
991:Wayback Machine
981:
977:
972:Wayback Machine
958:
954:
949:Wayback Machine
935:
931:
919:
915:
902:
898:
893:Wayback Machine
879:
875:
871:, 8 August 2005
863:
854:
846:
842:
834:
830:
825:Wayback Machine
815:
811:
806:Wayback Machine
788:
784:
774:
772:
765:
761:
749:
742:
733:
729:
723:Wayback Machine
714:
707:
695:Wayback Machine
686:
682:
674:
670:
661:
660:
656:
646:
644:
631:
630:
615:
598:
597:
593:
583:
581:
568:
567:
563:
532:
528:
522:BBC Documentary
520:
511:
507:
462:
349:
283:
227:
226:
217:
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208:
188:
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167:
165:
145:
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122:
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114:
110:
93:
91:
85:
83:
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68:
63:
28:
23:
22:
15:
12:
11:
5:
1214:
1204:
1203:
1198:
1193:
1188:
1183:
1178:
1173:
1168:
1163:
1158:
1143:
1142:
1116:
1090:
1064:
1042:
1026:
1010:
994:
975:
952:
929:
913:
896:
873:
852:
850:. 9 July 2012.
840:
828:
809:
795:MidEast Mirror
782:
759:
740:
727:
705:
680:
668:
654:
643:on 27 May 2015
613:
591:
561:
526:
508:
506:
503:
495:
494:
483:
476:
469:
466:
461:
458:
406:Flintlock 2005
348:
345:
310:Nabil Sahraoui
298:United Kingdom
282:
279:
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182:
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154:
139:
135:
134:
131:
127:
126:
105:
99:
98:
80:
74:
73:
65:Nabil Sahraoui
57:
53:
52:
44:
43:
37:
36:
26:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1213:
1202:
1199:
1197:
1194:
1192:
1191:War on terror
1189:
1187:
1184:
1182:
1179:
1177:
1174:
1172:
1169:
1167:
1164:
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1159:
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1130:
1126:
1120:
1104:
1100:
1094:
1078:
1074:
1068:
1052:
1046:
1039:
1035:
1030:
1024:, 8 June 2006
1023:
1019:
1014:
1007:
1003:
998:
992:
988:
984:
979:
973:
969:
966:, 4 May 2004
965:
961:
956:
950:
946:
942:
938:
933:
926:
922:
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849:
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832:
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786:
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763:
756:
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747:
745:
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731:
724:
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672:
664:
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579:
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557:
553:
549:
545:
542:(3): 407–13.
541:
537:
530:
523:
518:
516:
514:
509:
502:
500:
492:
488:
487:Sidi Medjahed
484:
481:
477:
474:
470:
467:
464:
463:
457:
453:
450:
446:
440:
437:
432:
430:
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422:
417:
415:
411:
407:
403:
402:Jeremy Keenan
398:
396:
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375:
371:
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358:
353:
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342:
336:
334:
330:
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311:
305:
303:
299:
295:
291:
287:
286:Hassan Hattab
278:
276:
272:
268:
264:
263:Hassan Hattab
260:
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254:
248:
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236:
225:
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201:
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185:
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136:
132:
128:
125:
121:
117:
113:
109:
106:
104:
100:
81:
75:
71:
66:
61:
60:Hassan Hattab
58:
54:
50:
45:
38:
33:
30:
19:
1133:. Retrieved
1129:the original
1119:
1107:. Retrieved
1103:the original
1093:
1081:. Retrieved
1077:the original
1067:
1055:. Retrieved
1045:
1037:
1029:
1021:
1013:
1005:
997:
978:
955:
932:
924:
916:
899:
876:
868:
843:
831:
812:
794:
791:al-Mustaqbal
790:
785:
773:. Retrieved
762:
754:
730:
698:
683:
671:
657:
645:. Retrieved
641:the original
608:the original
603:
594:
582:. Retrieved
578:the original
564:
539:
535:
529:
496:
454:
449:Sahel region
441:
433:
418:
399:
362:
337:
328:
326:
306:
284:
250:
246:
234:
232:
214:
205:
108:Pan-Islamism
29:
1057:21 November
153:(from 2003)
72:(2004–2007)
67:(2003–2004)
62:(1998–2003)
1150:Categories
927:2 May 2006
775:17 January
584:30 January
505:References
427:strand of
370:Mauritania
300:under the
277:" (AQIM).
1038:Al-Akhbar
1006:Panapress
556:153848665
491:Ain Defla
181:Opponents
987:Archived
968:Archived
945:Archived
889:Archived
869:BBC News
821:Archived
802:Archived
755:Le Monde
719:Archived
691:Archived
473:Tighremt
314:al-Qaeda
271:al-Qaeda
173:Al-Qaeda
151:Al-Qaeda
116:Salafism
103:Ideology
1135:30 July
1109:30 July
1083:30 July
445:Senegal
425:Qutbist
359:states.
333:El Para
281:History
195:Algeria
138:Part of
124:Qutbism
92: (
84: (
56:Leaders
647:27 May
554:
480:Tablat
390:Tuareg
239:Arabic
192:
160:Allies
552:S2CID
395:Qatar
382:Libya
378:Niger
90:–2007
1137:2016
1111:2016
1085:2016
1059:2014
777:2013
649:2015
586:2019
386:Chad
384:and
374:Mali
247:GSPC
233:The
130:Size
94:2007
86:1998
82:1998
925:UPI
544:doi
1152::
1036:,
1020:,
1004:,
923:,
867:,
855:^
743:^
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616:^
602:.
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550:.
540:12
538:.
512:^
489:,
397:.
380:,
376:,
372:,
304:.
241::
1139:.
1113:.
1087:.
1061:.
903:"
779:.
734:"
651:.
588:.
558:.
546::
249:(
237:(
96:)
88:)
20:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
