OVERVIEW

Al-Qa‘ida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb flag

Al-Qa‘ida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) is a North Africa–based Sunni terrorist group that seeks to eliminate governments and Western influence in the region and to establish sharia (Islamic law). It has conducted attacks across North and West Africa that have killed hundreds, including Americans.

AQIM’s predecessor group formed in 1998 as the Algeria-based Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), a faction of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA). The GSPC aligned itself with al-Qa‘ida in September 2006 and assumed the name AQIM in January 2007. Although AQIM is an al-Qai‘da affiliate, it maintains a largely autonomous command structure and targeting strategy. AQIM elements underwent various periods of schism and reconciliation between 2011 and 2017, one of which resulted in the merging of AQIM’s Sahel branch, the terrorist group al-Murabitun, and two other groups to establish Jama‘at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

OPERATING AREA
AQIM historically operated in the coastal areas of northern Algeria and in Libya and Tunisia, but counterterrorism efforts have forced it largely into the Sahel region, including Mali.

MEMBERS
Between 500 and 1,000 fighters; most recruits come from Algeria, Mali, and Mauritania

TACTICS AND TARGETS
AQIM employs small arms, machineguns, rockets, landmines, mortars, and IEDs, conducting guerrilla-style ambushes against military and civilian targets that include tourist areas and UN peacekeeping bases. Members have been responsible for kidnap-for-ransom operations against foreign and local targets and in some cases have executed their hostages. The group also obtains revenue by extorting drug-trafficking groups and engaging in illicit arms markets.

FOREIGN TERRORIST GROUP DESIGNATION
The US Department of State designated AQIM as a foreign terrorist organization on 20 February 2008. It was originally designated in March 2002 under its previous name, the GSPC.

KEY LEADERS

NOTABLE ATTACKS