The Dangerous “Pragmatism” of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb

Abstract

Since its “rebranding” from a terrorist group narrowly focused on the violent overthrow of the Algerian government into the regional affiliate of al-Qaeda, the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), has seen a significant transformation not just in its geographical space but also in its operational and strategic emphasis. Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), as the organization now denominates itself, has proven to be remarkably pragmatic, shifting away from those areas in North Africa where it had come under tremendous pressure from the largely successful counterinsurgency efforts and amnesties of recent to the vast, poorly governed spaces of the Sahel where it has found safe haven. In the process, AQIM has shown itself willing to partner with drug traffickers, smugglers, and other criminal elements as well as dissident factions like the Polisario Front in order to gain the resources required to continue the pursuit of its radical agenda over an increasingly broader geopolitical and social space. The transformed group thus presents a unique challenge not only to states in the region, but also to the wider international community.