A L Q A E D A’ S G L O B A L F R A N C H I S E S
Al Qaeda is an ever-evolving organization with a fearsome capacity to commit horrific violence in its pursuit of its extremist mission. However,
the group’s semi-independent regional ‘franchises’ often pursue their own agendas, irrespective of the needs and orders of the core
leadership. We have highlighted the five major al Qaeda groups in order to indicate that this organization is not united in its missions or its
goals, and should be confronted with different counterterrorism tools.
Al Qaeda in the Lands
of the Islamic Maghreb
(AQIM)
Al Qaeda Central
Al Qaeda in the Arabian
Peninsula (AQAP)
Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)
Location
Pakistan
Yemen and Saudi Arabia
Iraq
Algeria, Mali, Niger,
Mauritania
Somalia
Founded
1988
2009
2004
2007
2007
Who Are
They?
Al Qaeda is the
international terrorist
group responsible for
the September 11, 2001
attacks. After being
expelled from Afghanistan
in late 2001, al Qaeda's
members have mostly
settled in Pakistan's
tribal Agencies, although
numerous leaders have
been apprehended in
major Pakistani cities.
AQAP formed from a
merger between al Qaeda
in Yemen (AQY) and various
Saudi-based groups. Most
of AQAP's core leadership
escaped from a Yemeni
prison in 2006.
Goals
Al Qaeda seeks to
AQAP targets local and
establish a global caliphate Western interests in both
in countries historically
Yemen and Saudi Arabia
controlled by Muslim
in order to form an Islamic
rulers. In order to achieve
Caliphate there. AQAP
this goal, al Qaeda attacks
now actively targets the
U.S. and Western interests
U.S., suggesting the
in order to force the U.S.
group is willing to strike
to withdraw its support
outside Yemen.
from these countries.
AQIM is the group that
A group run by Abu
used to be known as
Musab al-Zarqawi that took
Algeria's "Groupe Salafiste
advantage of the chaotic
pour la Prédication et le
aftermath of the 2003 Iraq
invasion to spur sectarian
Combat" (GSPC). Since
merging with al Qaeda,
carnage and attacks on
AQIM has now launched
U.S. and Iraqi forces. This
attacks in neighboring
group formally aligned with
countries.
al Qaeda in October 2004
to become AQI.
AQI wants to establish
a global caliphate with
Baghdad as its capital.
AQIM desires to overthrow
the Algerian government,
establish an Islamic
caliphate in the region, and
generally attack U.S. and
Western targets.
Data from the National Counterterrorism Calendar, 2011. Available at: http://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/index.html; See also White House National Strategy for
Counterterrorism, 2011. Available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/counterterrorism_strategy.pdf.
Illustration by Jessica Harris. © 2011 Third Way. Free for re-use with attribution. For more, visit Third Way at www.thirdway.org.
Al Qaeda in East Africa and
Al Shabaab
Al Shabaab is the militant
wing of the conservative
(but not al Qaeda-aligned)
Islamic Courts Union (ICU), a
group that conquered most
of Somalia in mid-2006. After
Ethiopian troops routed the
ICU in 2006-2007, al Shaabab
(with some al Qaeda-linked
individuals) became more
active in fighting the newlyinstalled Transitional Federal
Government.
It remains unclear what alShabaab wants to accomplish
since many of its members
fight for clan-related
motivations. However, some
of its leaders have linked
the group to al Qaeda's
ideological goals.
A L Q A E D A’ S G L O B A L F R A N C H I S E S
(CONTINUED)
Al Qaeda is an ever-evolving organization with a fearsome capacity to commit horrific violence in its pursuit of its extremist mission. However,
the group’s semi-independent regional ‘franchises’ often pursue their own agendas, irrespective of the needs and orders of the core
leadership. We have highlighted the five major al Qaeda groups in order to indicate that this organization is not united in its missions or its
goals, and should be confronted with different counterterrorism tools.
Al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI)
Al Qaeda in the Lands
of the Islamic Maghreb
(AQIM)
Al Qaeda in East Africa
and Al Shabaab
Al Qaeda Central
Al Qaeda in the Arabian
Peninsula (AQAP)
Attacks
on U.S.
Yes
September 2001 attacks
Yes
All attempts so far
have failed
None so far
None so far
None so far
Attacks
on U.S.
Citizens
and
Interests
Abroad
Yes
1998 U.S. Embassies
in Kenya and Tanzania
bombing; 2000 USS Cole
bombing.
Yes
Sept. 2008 U.S. Embassy in
Yemen VBIED attack.
Yes
Many attacks against U.S.
forces and civilians in Iraq;
attacks against U.S. hotels
and warships in Jordan.
Yes
In mid-2009, AQIM
murdered an American
citizen in Mali.
Unclear
Mid-2007 attacks against
Algerian government
buildings, that killed over
30 people.
July 2010 twin suicide
attacks in Uganda.
Major
Terrorist
Activites
Sept. 11, 2001 attacks;
July 2005 London transit
bombings.
Sept. 2008 U.S. Embassy in
Yemen VBIED attack.
Aug. 2006 destruction
of the al Askari Shrine in
Sammara, Iraq;
Nov. 2005 Amman hotel
bombings; many suicide
bombings against Iraqi
government, U.S., and
civilian targets in Iraq.
Failures
Aug. 2006 attempt to
destroy multiple airplanes
in mid-flight.
Dec. 2009 airplane bombing
attempt; Oct. 2010 cargo
plane bombing attempt.
Aug. 2005 rocket attack
attempt against the USS
Kearseage and USS Ashland
docked in Aqaba, Jordan.
Unclear
Unclear
Main
Point
from the
2011
Natl
Strategy
for
CounterTerrorism
"Al-Qa‘ida continues to
pose a persistent and
evolving threat to the U.S.
Homeland and interests...
Sustained pressure…
has forced the group
to undergo the most
significant turnover in its
command structure since
2001 and put al Qa’ida on
a path to defeat."
"The United States faces
a sustained threat from
Yemen-based AQAP, which
has shown the intent and
capability to plan attacks
against the U.S. Homeland
and U.S. partners."
"AQI continues to be
the main focus of U.S.
[counterterrorism] efforts in
Iraq, as it poses a threat not
only to stability but to our
military forces. In addition,
AQI continues to plot attacks
against U.S. interests in the
region and beyond."
"AQIM has its roots in
Algeria but in recent years
has shifted its center of
gravity southward, where
it enjoys a degree of
safehaven in northern
Mali and exploits the
limited [counterterrorism]
capabilities of the frontline
countries in the Sahel."
"[Al Qaeda's] presence
within al-Shabaab is
increasingly leading that
group to pose a regional
threat with growing
transregional ties to other
al-Qa‘ida affiliates and
ambitions.
Data from the National Counterterrorism Calendar, 2011. Available at: http://www.nctc.gov/site/groups/index.html; See also White House National Strategy for
Counterterrorism, 2011. Available at: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/counterterrorism_strategy.pdf.
Illustration by Jessica Harris. © 2011 Third Way. Free for re-use with attribution. For more, visit Third Way at www.thirdway.org.