inSCIghts

SECURITY UPDATE: MALI – ALGERIA

January 30th, 2013 | Author: Dr. Ross Riggs

FOLLOWING the  LINK to the TERRORIST ATTACK on ALGERIAN OIL PRODUCTION PLANT  by AQIM, the HOSTAGES and MALI INSURRECTION

A series of events indicate that the unrest that brought French troops alongside Mali forces outside of Timbuktu may be related to further Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. Now, British Prime Minister has promised a ‘sizable amount’ of British forces to have boots on the ground within the month (though not in a “combat role”).  Escalation of international action against the Islamic rebels in Mali comes even as French President Hollande praises the French and African units’ success. Prime Minister Cameron may not have sufficient support of the British legislature to do more than a show of force and solidarity.

Algerian gas lines were severely damaged from the explosion at a gas production facility, an apparent terrorist attack on January 16, 2013. Experts believe that the attack on the production facility was planned several weeks in advance in anticipation of France’s intervention in the Islamic rebel actions.

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

The taking of hostages appears to have been part of the planned attack and not just an unintended consequence of the AQIM attack. What remains unclear is the outcome of the Algerian attempt to rescue the hostages. The number of dead hostages, hostage takers and rescuers is still not known. 

Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb: In northwest Africa, AQIM has entrenched itself in the sub-Saharan Sahel region of southern Algeria and in Mali and Mauritania, in addition to the mountainous Kabylie region which borders the Mediterranean Sea in northern Algeria. The group, estimated to be anywhere from several hundred to around 1,000 members strong, is now a trans-national terrorist franchise.

"UNDERSTANDING AQIM" –
            SCI and GSCI21 to focus on AQIM in upcoming updates