General information
First Active Year: 1992
Current Name: AIS
Current Name full English: Islamic Salvation Army
Current Name full native language: Armée Islamique du Salut
Original Name: MIA
Original Name full English: Armed Islamic Movement
Original Name full native language: Mouvement Islamique Armée
Actor Chronology
This section contains information about (if applicable) group splinters, name changes, and alliances according to the UCDP definitions of these concepts.
Name Change: From MIA to FIS
On: 1993-01-01
Name Change: From FIS to AIS
On: 1994-07-01
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1992
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Algeria - AIS
1993
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Algeria - AIS
1994
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Algeria - AIS
1995
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
AIS - GIA
Government of Algeria - AIS
1996
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Algeria - AIS
1997
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
AIS - GIA
Government of Algeria - AIS
1998
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
AIS - GIA
Group Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1992 Group Archive
Government of Algeria - AIS
Comment on Name: Mouvement Islamique Armée; Armed Islamic Movement
Comment on Active: Until January 1993 the Islamic Salvation Fronts (FIS) leadership refrained from endorsing the violent attacks that groups such as the Armed Islamic Movement (MIA) had carried out since the termination of the elections, which the FIS was poised to win, in January 1992. Instead the FIS sought a political solution to the crisis during 1992. The FIS is therefore not seen as a warring party in 1992.
Troop Size: 2000
Comment on Troop Size: It was reported that the Armed Islamic Movement (MIA) had around 2000 fighters in 1992.
1993 Group Archive
Government of Algeria - AIS
Comment on Name: FIS / Al-Jibhat al-Islamiyya li-l-Inqadh / Front Islamique du Salut / Islamic Salvation Front (and its armed wing the MIA / Mouvement Islamique Armée / Armed Islamic Movement)
Comment on Active: During 1992, the first year of fighting in Algeria, the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) refrained from endorsing the armed struggle that groups such as the Armed Islamic Movement (MIA) had launched after the termination of the electoral process, that the FIS was poised to win, in January 1992. It was not until January 1993 that such an endorsement came from the FIS leadership. At that time the FISs second in command, Ali Belhadj, made a statement from prison saying that if he were free, he would fight in the ranks of Abdelkader Chebouti (leader of the MIA). After this date the FIS made efforts to bring the armed elements under FIS control, which the FIS partly succeeded with in March 1993 when Mohammed Said, a member of the highest FIS leadership, was nominated as political representative in the MIA. At the same time a united command was created for a number of armed groups under the leadership of the MIA. This event symbolizes the FISs recognition that the party could not influence the Algerian government without using military means.
Troop Size: 10 000 - 15 000
Comment on Troop Size: Total strength of all armed militias
Secondary Support: 1.) In 1993 there were rumours that Sudan was giving military training to FIS members. These reports, however, have not been possible to confirm. 2.) Iran gave at least some arms and material aid to armed Islamist groups after 1992. It has, however, not been possible to establish to exactly which groups the support was given.
1994 Group Archive
Government of Algeria - AIS
Comment on Name: AIS / Armée Islamique du Salut / Islamic Salvation Army
Comment on Active: In July 1994 the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS) formed a new-armed wing, the Islamic Salvation Army (AIS). The AIS was composed of elements of the old armed wing of the FIS, the Armed Islamic Movement (MIA), and other smaller Islamist guerrilla groups, such as the Islamic State Movement (MEI).
Troop Size: 10 000 - 15 000
Comment on Troop Size: It was reported that Islamist guerrillas under the control of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), of which the Islamic Salvation Army (AIS) was the dominant, numbered between 10 000 - 15 000 fighters in 1994.
Secondary Support: Western intelligence reports stated in 1994 that Iran shipped weapons to Islamist rebels in Algeria via Sudan, with Sudans active help. After arriving in Sudan the weapons were transported via Chad to either Libya or Niger on to Algeria. This support has not been included as support from a secondary party, since it has not been possible to establish which groups received the support. It was also reported that organisations working within the Algerian community in France, such as the Fraternité algérienne en France, was collecting money and weapons for Islamist guerrillas in Algeria. It has, however, not been possible to establish which groups received this aid.
1995 Group Archive
AIS - GIA
Comment on Name: AIS / Armée Islamique du Salut / Islamic Salvation Army (FIS / Al-Jibhat al-Islamiyya li-l-Inqadh / Front Islamique du Salut / Islamic Salvation Front)
Government of Algeria - AIS
Comment on Name: AIS / Armée Islamique du Salut / Islamic Salvation Army (FIS / Al-Jibhat al-Islamiyya li-l-Inqadh / Front Islamique du Salut / Islamic Salvation Front)
Troop Size: Missing
Secondary Support: In 1995 it was reported that the International Islamic Relief Organization gave economic support to the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS)
1996 Group Archive
Government of Algeria - AIS
Comment on Name: AIS / Armée Islamique du Salut / Islamic Salvation Army (FIS / Al-Jibhat al-Islamiyya li-l-Inqadh / Front Islamique du Salut / Islamic Salvation Front)
Troop Size: 4000
Comment on Troop Size: It was reported that the Islamic Salvation Army (AIS) had around 4000 fighters in 1996.
1997 Group Archive
AIS - GIA
Comment on Name: AIS / Armée Islamique du Salut / Islamic Salvation Army (FIS / Al-Jibhat al-Islamiyya li-l-Inqadh / Front Islamique du Salut / Islamic Salvation Front)
Government of Algeria - AIS
Comment on Name: AIS / Armée Islamique du Salut / Islamic Salvation Army (FIS / Al-Jibhat al-Islamiyya li-l-Inqadh / Front Islamique du Salut / Islamic Salvation Front)
Comment on Active: By 1 October 1997 the armed wing of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), the Islamica Salvation Army (AIS), declared a unilateral ceasefire. This was the result of negotiations between the AIS and the Algerian authorities that had been conducted since May 1996. During the talks in 1997, the FIS was not involved and according to sources within the AIS, the AIS leadership made no demands for the re-legalization of the FIS. This, together with the fact that by this time the FIS was no longer speaking with a unified voice, makes it more appropriate to see the AIS as being independent of the FIS and the FIS as an irrelevant political actor. The FIS is therefore not included in the analyses after 1 October 1997.
Troop Size: 2000 - 5000
Comment on Troop Size: It was reported that the Islamic Salvation Army (AIS) had 2000 - 5000 fighters in 1997.
