Armed Islamic Group of Algeria

Logo of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA). The Armed Islamic Group ( GIA , al-Jama'ah al-Islamiyah al-Musallaha , from French Groupe Islamique Armé ; Arabic الجماعة الإسلامية المسلّحة ) is an Islamist organisation that wants to overthrow the Algerian government and replace it with an Islamic state . The GIA adopted violent tactics in 1992 after the military government voided the victory of the Islamic Salvation Front , the largest Islamic opposition party, in the first round of legislative elections held in December 1991. During their 1994 hijack of Air France Flight 8969 the GIA announced "We are the Soldiers of Mercy". Between 1992 and 1998 the GIA conducted a violent campaign of civilian massacres, sometimes wiping out entire villages in its area of operation (see List of Algerian massacres of the 1990s ; notably the Bentalha massacre and Rais massacre , among others.) Since announcing its campaign against foreigners living in Algeria in 1993, the GIA has killed more than 100 expatriate men and women in the country. The group uses assassinations and bombings, including car bombs, and it is known to favor kidnapping victims and slitting their throats. The GIA is considered a terrorist organisation by the governments of Algeria, France and the United States . Outside of Algeria, the GIA established a presence in France, Belgium, Britain, Italy and the United States. Allah has selected us as his soldiers. We are here to wage war in his name.

The Armed Islamic Group ( GIA , from ; , al-Jama'ah al-Islamiyah al-Musallaha ) was one of the two main Islamist insurgents groups that fought the Algerian government and army in the Algerian Civil War . It was created from smaller armed groups following the 1992 military coup and arrest and internment of thousands of officials in the Islamist Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) party after that party won the first round of parliamentary elections in December 1991. It was led by a succession of amirs (commanders) who were killed or arrested one after another. Unlike the other main armed groups, the MIA and later the AIS, in its pursuit of an Islamic state the GIA sought not to pressure the government into concessions but to destabilise and overthrow it, to "purge the land of the ungodly". Its slogan inscribed on all communiques was: "no agreement, no truce, no dialogue". The group desired to create "an atmosphere of general insecurity" and employed kidnapping, assassination, and bombings, including car bombs and targeted not only security forces but civilians. Between 1992 and 1998, the GIA conducted a violent campaign of civilian massacres , sometimes wiping out entire villages in its area of operation, (notably the Bentalha and Rais ). It attacked and killed other Islamists that left the GIA or attempted to negotiate with the government. It also targeted foreign civilians living in Algeria, killing more than 100 expatriate men and women in the country. The group established a presence outside Algeria, in France, Belgium, Britain, Italy and the United States, and launched terror attacks in France in late 1994. The "undisputed principal Islamist force" in Algeria in 1994, by 1996, militants were deserting "in droves", alienated by its execution of civilians and Islamists leaders. In 1999, a government amnesty law motivated large numbers of jihadis to "repent". The remnants of the GIA proper were hunted down over the next two years, leaving a splinter group the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which announced its support for Al-Qaeda in October 2003. The GIA was and is considered a terrorist organisation by the governments of Algeria and France . To what extent the group was infiltrated and manipulated by Algerian security services is disputed.

The Armed Islamic Group ( GIA , from ; ), was one of the two main Islamist insurgents groups that fought the Algerian government and army in the Algerian Civil War . It was created from smaller armed groups following the 1992 military coup and arrest and internment of thousands of officials in the Islamist Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) party after that party won the first round of parliamentary elections in December 1991. It was led by a succession of amirs (commanders) who were killed or arrested one after another.Unlike the other main armed groups, the Mouvement Islamique Arme (MIA) and later the Islamic Salvation Army (AIS), in its pursuit of an Islamic state the GIA sought not to pressure the government into concessions but to destabilise and overthrow it, to "purge the land of the ungodly". Its slogan inscribed on all communiques was: "no agreement, no truce, no dialogue". The group desired to create "an atmosphere of general insecurity" and employed kidnapping , assassination , and bombings, including car bombs and targeted not only security forces but civilians.Between 1992 and 1998, the GIA conducted a violent campaign of civilian massacres , sometimes wiping out entire villages in its area of operation, (notably those in Bentalha and Rais ). It attacked and killed other Islamists that left the GIA or attempted to negotiate with the government. It also targeted foreign civilians living in Algeria, killing more than 100 expatriate men and women in the country. The group established a presence outside Algeria, in France, Belgium, Britain, Italy and the United States, and launched terror attacks in France in 1994 and 1995. The "undisputed principal Islamist force" in Algeria in 1994, by 1996, militants were deserting "in droves", alienated by its execution of civilians and Islamists leaders. In 1999, a government amnesty law motivated large numbers of jihadis to "repent". The remnants of the GIA proper were hunted down over the next two years, leaving a splinter group the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which announced its support for Al-Qaeda in October 2003. The GIA was and is considered a terrorist organisation by the governments of Algeria and France . To what extent the group was infiltrated and manipulated by Algerian security services is disputed. The GIA remains a Proscribed Organisation in the United Kingdom under the Terrorism Act 2000 .

1993–2004 Islamist insurgent group in the Algerian Civil War The Armed Islamic Group ( GIA , from ; ) was one of the two main Islamist insurgent groups that fought the Algerian government and army in the Algerian Civil War . It was created from smaller armed groups following the 1992 military coup and arrest and internment of thousands of officials in the Islamist Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) party after that party won the first round of parliamentary elections in December 1991. It was led by a succession of amirs (commanders) who were killed or arrested one after another. Unlike the other main armed groups, the Mouvement Islamique Arme (MIA) and later the Islamic Salvation Army (AIS), in its pursuit of an Islamic state the GIA sought not to pressure the government into concessions but to destabilise and overthrow it, to "purge the land of the ungodly". Its slogan inscribed on all communiques was: "no agreement, no truce, no dialogue". GIA's ideology was inspired by the Jihadist writings of the Egyptian Islamist scholar Sayyid Qutb . The group desired to create "an atmosphere of general insecurity" and employed kidnapping , assassination , and bombings, including car bombs and targeted not only security forces but civilians. Between 1992 and 1998, the GIA conducted a violent campaign of civilian massacres , sometimes wiping out entire villages in its area of operation (notably those in Bentalha and Rais ). It attacked and killed other Islamists who had left the GIA or attempted to negotiate with the government. It also targeted foreign civilians living in Algeria, killing more than 100 expatriate men and women in the country. The group established a presence outside Algeria, in France, Belgium, Britain, Italy and the United States, and launched terror attacks in France in 1994 and 1995 . The "undisputed principal Islamist force" in Algeria in 1994, by 1996, militants were deserting "in droves", alienated by its execution of civilians and Islamist leaders. In 1999, a government amnesty law motivated large numbers of jihadis to "repent". The remnants of the GIA proper were hunted down over the next two years, leaving a splinter group the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which announced its support for Al-Qaeda in October 2003. The extent to which the group was infiltrated and manipulated by Algerian security services is disputed. The GIA is considered a terrorist organisation by the governments of Algeria, France and the United States . The GIA remains a Proscribed Organisation in the United Kingdom under the Terrorism Act 2000 . "Jihad in Algeria: Sayyid Qutb's Legacy on the Groupe Islamique Armé/Armed Islamic Group (GIA) and the Armée Islamique du Salut/Islamic Salvation Army (AIS)" .

1993–2004 Islamist insurgent group in the Algerian Civil War The Armed Islamic Group ( GIA , from French : Groupe Islamique Armé ; Arabic : الجماعة الإسلامية المسلّحة , romanized : al-Jamāʿa al-ʾIslāmiyya al-Musallaḥa ) was one of the two main Islamist insurgent groups that fought the Algerian government and army in the Algerian Civil War . It was created from smaller armed groups following the 1992 military coup and arrest and internment of thousands of officials in the Islamist Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) party after that party won the first round of parliamentary elections in December 1991. It was led by a succession of amirs (commanders) who were killed or arrested one after another. Unlike the other main armed groups, the Mouvement Islamique Armé (MIA) and later the Islamic Salvation Army (AIS), in its pursuit of an Islamic state the GIA sought not to pressure the government into concessions but to destabilise and overthrow it, to "purge the land of the ungodly". Its slogan inscribed on all communiques was: "no agreement, no truce, no dialogue". GIA's ideology was inspired by the Jihadist writings of the Egyptian Islamist scholar Sayyid Qutb . The group desired to create "an atmosphere of general insecurity" and employed kidnapping , assassination , and bombings, including car bombs and targeted not only security forces but civilians. Between 1992 and 1998, the GIA conducted a violent campaign of civilian massacres , sometimes wiping out entire villages in its area of operation (notably those in Bentalha and Rais ). It attacked and killed other Islamists who had left the GIA or attempted to negotiate with the government. It also targeted foreign civilians living in Algeria, killing more than 100 expatriate men and women in the country. The group established a presence outside Algeria, in France, Belgium, Britain, Italy and the United States, and launched terror attacks in France in 1994 and 1995 . The "undisputed principal Islamist force" in Algeria in 1994, by 1996, militants were deserting "in droves", alienated by its execution of civilians and Islamist leaders. In 1999, a government amnesty law motivated large numbers of jihadis to "repent". The remnants of the GIA proper were hunted down over the next two years, leaving a splinter group the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), which announced its support for Al-Qaeda in October 2003. The extent to which the group was infiltrated and manipulated by Algerian security services is disputed. The GIA is considered a terrorist organisation by the governments of Algeria , France , the United States , Argentina , Bahrain , Japan , New Zealand , the United Kingdom and the United Nations ,. The GIA remains a Proscribed Organisation in the United Kingdom under the Terrorism Act 2000 . Canada once listed GIA as a terrorist entity until 18 June 2024. "Jihad in Algeria: Sayyid Qutb's Legacy on the Groupe Islamique Armé/Armed Islamic Group (GIA) and the Armée Islamique du Salut/Islamic Salvation Army (AIS)" . "Registro Público de Personas y Entidades vinculadas a actos de Terrorismo y su Financiamiento (RePET)" . Ministerio de Justicia y Derechos Humanos de la Nación [ Ministry of Justice and Human Rights (Argentina) ] (in Spanish) . Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Bahrain .