Narrative
Narrative of the Organization's History
Narrative of the Organization's History
Leadership, Name Changes, Size Estimates, Resources, Geographic Locations
Ideology, Aims, Political Activities, Targets, and Tactics
First Attacks, Largest Attacks, Notable Attacks
Foreign Designations and Listings, Community Relations, Relations with Other Groups, State Sponsors and External Influences
Mapping relationships with other militant groups over time in regional maps
The GIA sought to overthrow the Algerian government and wage total war as a means to establish an Islamic state ruled by Shariah law.[24] On May 13, 1994, the GIA released a unification communique which reaffirmed its commitment to Shariah law and the Salafi ideology, justified its implementation of violent jihad while rejecting peace processes with the government, and declared the GIA the only legitimate jihadi organization in Algeria.[25]
In 1996, the GIA released a 60-page political manifesto, “The Sharp Sword,” laying out emir Zouabri’s Salafist orthodoxy. The document further justified the GIA’s strategy of slaughtering civilians and blamed the Algerian community for failing to fulfill its religious duty to battle against impious enemies.[26]
In May 2002, the GIA allegedly conducted a brutal massacre of 34 civilians in the Chlef Province, in northern Algeria, in order to disrupt the elections scheduled for the end of the month.[27]
The GIA gained notoriety as Algeria’s most dangerous extremist group for its indiscriminate targeting of civilians, particularly intellectuals and journalists, and its campaign of high-profile terrorist attacks. The group launched hijackings, bombed civilian sites using IEDs, and ambushed Algerian security forces.[28]
The GIA’s tactics evolved over the course of its operation. From 1993, the organization launched a high-profile terror campaign that concentrated on targets in Algeria. From late 1994, beginning with the hijacking of the Air France flight, the group expanded to attack international targets and foreign interests in Algeria. Beginning in 1996, the GIA shifted to targeting Algerian civilians in large-scale brutal attacks that involved decapitation and throat-cutting and decimated entire villages.[29]
GIA militants regularly targeted Jews, Christians, and moderate Muslims. In addition to publishing inflammatory rhetoric against Jews and Christians in its magazine, Al Ansar, the GIA publicly executed Muslims who supported diplomacy with the government.[30] The GIA was also known to attack foreigners in Algeria. Between 1992 – 2002, the group killed over 100 foreigners, primarily Europeans, in the country.[31]
Disclaimer: These are some selected major attacks in the militant organization's history. It is not a comprehensive listing but captures some of the most famous attacks or turning points during the campaign.
August 1994: The GIA attacked the French Embassy in Algiers, leading to the deaths of 5 French officials (5 killed, unknown wounded).[32]
December 24, 1994: The GIA hijacked an Air France flight in Algiers, allegedly planning to crash it into the Eiffel Tower. GIA militants, disguised as security agents, executed three passengers before French commandos killed the attackers (3 killed, unknown wounded).[33]
July – October 1995: The GIA launched several deadly bombings using IEDs in France on Parisian subways, outdoor markets, a Jewish school, a high-speed train, and the Arc de Triomphe. The suspects were convicted for their crimes in France in 2002 (10 killed, 200+ wounded).[34]
March 27, 1996: The GIA kidnapped and executed 7 monks from the Tibehirine monastery in Algeria (7 killed, 0 wounded).[35]
August 1, 1996: The GIA bombed the home of the French Archbishop of Oran, Algeria, a strong supporter of inter-faith dialogue. Both the archbishop and his driver died in the attack (2 killed, 0 wounded).[36]
January 1997: The GIA was responsible for a campaign of Algerian village massacres leading up to Ramadan that resulted in the deaths of over 300 civilians. On the first day of Ramadan, GIA militants attacked two villages in the western Relizane province, killing 78 villagers (300+ killed, unknown wounded).[37]
July 5, 2002: On Algeria’s Independence Day, GIA bombed a major market place in Larbaa, 20 kilometers from the capital city (35 killed, 37 wounded).[38]
August 17, 2002: Militants suspected of having ties to the GIA attacked and killed 26 civilians in Bokaat Laakakcha, a secluded village in Chlef province, Algeria (26 killed, 0 wounded).[39]
The GIA developed a reputation for indiscriminate targeting of civilians, especially intellectuals and journalists. After 1996, the GIA began to target Algerian civilians in large-scale brutal attacks that involved decapitation and throat-cutting and decimated entire villages.[44] These violent tactics alienated many Algerian civilians and supporters the GIA had acquired at the beginning of the Algerian Civil War. However, the GIA allegedly maintained positive relations with the Algerian expatriate community in France, which provided financial support and recruitment assistance to the group.[45]
In 1998, the GIA became divided over the issue of attacking civilians, and a group of militants, led by GIA leader Hassan Hattab, split to form the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which later became Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Hattab was allegedly concerned that the GIA’s violent tactics alienated Algerian civilians and supporters it had acquired at the beginning of the Algerian Civil War.[46] The GIA had a conflictual relationship with the GSPC. Many GIA members eventually defected to join the GSPC.[47]
The GIA was allegedly linked to Al Qaeda (AQ) through GIA leader Sheik Uthman, as AQ leader Osama bin Laden designated him as a spiritual advisor for Algerian militant groups. The GIA initially received financial & logistical backing from AQ; bin Laden allegedly sent wire transfers of money to the GIA members that planned the deadly French bombings of 1995.[48]
The Groupe Islamique Armé rarely collaborated with other Islamic militant groups in Algeria, as many of them criticized the GIA’s killing of innocent civilians and its brutal tactics against moderate Muslims.[49]
Algerian security forces allegedly infiltrated GIA leadership, though there has not been independent confirmation of these claims. Some sources suggest the Algerian security services encouraged the group to use violent tactics as a way to diminish its popular support.[50] These sources claim that while several of the massacres in 1997 took place close to Algerian army barracks, no forces came to assist the Algerian civilians.[51]
[1] “Armed Islamic Group (GIA).” Parliament of Australia, n.d. Web. 24 July 2018.
[2] “Profile of Internal Displacement: Algeria.” Norwegian Refugee Council, 12 Feb. 2003. Web. 25 July 2018.
[3] Hafez, Mohammed M. 2000. “Armed Islamist Movements and Political Violence in Algeria,” Middle East Journal 54, no. 4. Autumn 2000.
[4] Hafez, Mohammed M. 2000. “Armed Islamist Movements and Political Violence in Algeria,” Middle East Journal 54, no. 4. Autumn 2000.
[5] Hafez, Mohammed M. 2000. “Armed Islamist Movements and Political Violence in Algeria,” Middle East Journal 54, no. 4. Autumn 2000.
[6] “Armed Islamic Group (GIA).” Parliament of Australia, n.d. Web. 24 July 2018.; Riding, Alan. “French Court Sentences 2 for Role in 1995 Bombings that Killed 8.” The New York Times, 01 Nov. 2002. Web. 25 July 2018.
[7] “Armed Islamic Group (GIA).” Parliament of Australia, n.d. Web. 24 July 2018.
[8] “ARMED ISLAMIC GROUP | United Nations Security Council Subsidiary Organs.” UN News Center, 16 Dec. 2013. Web. 25 July 2016.
[9] “ARMED ISLAMIC GROUP | United Nations Security Council Subsidiary Organs.” UN News Center, 16 Dec. 2013. Web. 25 July 2016.
[10] Vriens, Lauren. “Armed Islamic Group (Algeria, Islamists).” Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, 27 May 2009. Web. 25 July 2016.
[11] Botha, Anneli. “Chapter 2: Terrorism in Algeria.” Institute for Security Studies, June 2008. Web. 26 July 2018.
[12] Grant, Audra. “The Algerian 2005 Amnesty: The Path to Peace?” The Jamestown Foundation, 17 Nov. 2005. Web. 26 July 2018.
[13] “Armed Islamic Group (GIA).” Parliament of Australia, n.d. Web. 24 July 2018.
[14] “Armed Islamic Group (GIA).” Parliament of Australia, n.d. Web. 24 July 2018.
[15] Hafez, Mohammed M. 2000. “Armed Islamist Movements and Political Violence in Algeria,” Middle East Journal 54, no. 4. Autumn 2000.
[16] “Islamist leader freed in Algeria.” BBC News, 13 March 2006. Web. 26 July 2018.
[17] Smith, Craig S. “In Algeria, amnesty, but not forgiveness.” International Herald Tribune, 28 June 2006. Web. 26 July 2018.
[18] Kepel, Gilles. Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam. Harvard University Press, 2002.
[19] Saleh, Heba. “Antar Zouabri: A violent legacy.” BBC News, 09 Feb. 2002. Web. 26 July 2018.
[20] Himeur, Mohammed Arezki. “Dozens dead in Algeria massacre.” 16 Aug. 2002. Web. 26 July 2018.
[21] “Armed Islamic Group (GIA).” Parliament of Australia, n.d. Web. 24 July 2018.
[22] Burns, John F. “After Legal Marathon, Britain Deports Terror Suspect.” The New York Times,. 06 July 2013. Web. 26 July 2018.
[23] “ARMED ISLAMIC GROUP | United Nations Security Council Subsidiary Organs.” UN News Center, 16 Dec. 2013. Web. 25 July 2016.
[24] “Armed Islamic Group (GIA).” Parliament of Australia, n.d. Web. 24 July 2018.
[25] Hafez, Mohammed M. 2000. “Armed Islamist Movements and Political Violence in Algeria,” Middle East Journal 54, no. 4. Autumn 2000.
[26] Kepel, Gilles. Jihad: The Trail of Political Islam. Harvard University Press, 2002.
[27] “Armed Islamic Group (GIA).” Parliament of Australia, n.d. Web. 24 July 2018.
[28] Vriens, Lauren. “Armed Islamic Group (Algeria, Islamists).” Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, 27 May 2009. Web. 25 July 2016.
[29] “Armed Islamic Group (GIA).” Parliament of Australia, n.d. Web. 24 July 2018.
[30] Vriens, Lauren. “Armed Islamic Group (Algeria, Islamists).” Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, 27 May 2009. Web. 25 July 2016.
[31] Vriens, Lauren. “Armed Islamic Group (Algeria, Islamists).” Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, 27 May 2009. Web. 25 July 2016.
[32] “Armed Islamic Group (GIA).” Parliament of Australia, n.d. Web. 24 July 2018.
[33] “ARMED ISLAMIC GROUP | United Nations Security Council Subsidiary Organs.” UN News Center, 16 Dec. 2013. Web. 25 July 2016; Sof, Eric. “The hijacking of Air France flight 8969.” Spec Ops Magazine, 25 Oct. 2012. Web. 25 July 2018.
[34] “Armed Islamic Group (GIA).” Parliament of Australia, n.d. Web. 24 July 2018.; Riding, Alan. “French Court Sentences 2 for Role in 1995 Bombings that Killed 8.” The New York Times, 01 Nov. 2002. Web. 25 July 2018.
[35] “ARMED ISLAMIC GROUP | United Nations Security Council Subsidiary Organs.” UN News Center, 16 Dec. 2013. Web. 25 July 2016.
[36] Dejevsky, Mary. “Catholic bishop dies in Algeria bomb attack.” Independent, 03 Aug. 1996. Web. 25 July 2018.
[37] Daniszewski, John. “In Algeria, Islam’s Holy Month Is Killing Season.” Los Angeles Times, 01 Jan. 1998. Web. 25 July 2018.
[38] “ARMED ISLAMIC GROUP | United Nations Security Council Subsidiary Organs.” UN News Center, 16 Dec. 2013. Web. 25 July 2016.
[39] “Profile of Internal Displacement: Algeria.” Norwegian Refugee Council, 12 Feb. 2003. Web. 25 July 2018.
[40] “Foreign Terrorist Organizations.” U.S. Department of State. Web. 2 November 2015.
[41] “Proscribed Terrorist Organisations.” UK Home Office, 22 Dec. 2017. Web. 26 June 2018.
[42] “ARMED ISLAMIC GROUP | United Nations Security Council Subsidiary Organs.” UN News Center, 16 Dec. 2013. Web. 25 July 2016.
[43] Government of Canada. “Currently listed entities.” Public Safety Canada, 15 Feb. 2018. Web. 26 June 2018.
[44] “Armed Islamic Group (GIA).” Parliament of Australia, n.d. Web. 24 July 2018.
[45] “ARMED ISLAMIC GROUP | United Nations Security Council Subsidiary Organs.” UN News Center, 16 Dec. 2013. Web. 25 July 2016.
[46] Cristiani, Dario. “Ten Years of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb: Evolution and Prospects.” The Jamestown Foundation, 05 May 2017. Web. 25 July 2018.
[47] “ARMED ISLAMIC GROUP | United Nations Security Council Subsidiary Organs.” UN News Center, 16 Dec. 2013. Web. 25 July 2016.
[48] “Armed Islamic Group (GIA).” Parliament of Australia, n.d. Web. 24 July 2018.
[49] Vriens, Lauren. “Armed Islamic Group (Algeria, Islamists).” Council on Foreign Relations. Council on Foreign Relations, 27 May 2009. Web. 25 July 2016.
[50] Garcon, Jose. “Les GIA sont une creation des services de securite algeriens.” Liberation, 15 Nov. 2003. Web. 25 July 2018; Evans, Martin, and John Phillips. Algeria: Anger of the Dispossessed. Yale University Press, 2007; “GIA: Armed Islamist Groups serving the Algerian Securite militaire?” Algeria Watch, 13 Dec. 2009. Web. 26 July 2018.
[51] Saleh, Heba. “Antar Zouabri: A violent legacy.” BBC News, 09 Feb. 2002. Web. 25 July 2018.