Algerian Hijack: Radicals driven by violence
The Guerrillas
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Tunis -The Armed Islamic Group (GIA) is considered the most radical and dangerous of Algeria's fundamentalists and the most anti-foreign. More than 70 foreigners have been killed since last year when it gave foreigners a month to get out or face death.
In the Algerian Arabic daily Essalam, an unidentified GIA leader described foreigners as "the main coronary artery" of a plan to "colonise" the country with non-Muslim unbelievers. "Killing ... them is the practical message to weaken the unbeliever rulers," he said.
The group claims to be the heir of the first wave of Muslim guerrilla activists in Algeria. This movement was considered to have been knocked out after its founder, Mustapha Bouyali, was shot dead in 1986. The GIA has a qualification for leaders that they take part in violent operations. "They ... must demonstrate they have killed significant numbers among God's enemies", the leader said. The last leader was Cherif Gousmi, 26, who was killed in a gunfight in September. Security forces said they found onhis body a letter from Ali Belhadj, number two in the FIS political command, urging Muslim rebels to intensify their war against the army-backed government.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments