General information
First Active Year: 1993
Current Name: GIA
Current Name full English: Armed Islamic Group
Current Name full native language: Groupe islamique armé
Original Name: GIA
Original Name full English: Armed Islamic Group
Original Name full native language: Groupe islamique armé
Actor Chronology
This section contains information about (if applicable) group splinters, name changes, and alliances according to the UCDP definitions of these concepts.
UCDP has not recorded any Chronology Activities involving this group.
Conflict issues
Annual information
This section contains annual information systematically collected by the UCDP.
1993
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
GIA - Civilians
Government of Algeria - GIA
1994
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Algeria - GIA
1995
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Algeria - GIA
AIS - GIA
1996
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
Government of Algeria - GIA
1997
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
GIA - Civilians
Government of Algeria - GIA
AIS - GIA
1998
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
GIA - Civilians
Government of Algeria - GIA
AIS - GIA
1999
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
GIA - Civilians
Government of Algeria - GIA
2000
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
GIA - Civilians
Government of Algeria - GIA
2001
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
GIA - Civilians
Government of Algeria - GIA
2002
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
GIA - Civilians
Government of Algeria - GIA
2003
Actor Active in Dyad(s):
GIA - Civilians
Government of Algeria - GIA
Group Archive
This section contains annual information no longer systematically collected by the UCDP.
1993 Group Archive
GIA - Civilians
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Government of Algeria - GIA
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Troop Size: Missing
Secondary Support: 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. Parts of the Algerian diaspora in France and Belgium have been associated with the GIA. These supporters were typically centered around fundamentalist circles and mosques. The typical support offered was of financial nature alongside recruitment opportunities and sanctuary for the members of the GIA. This support has been strongest between 1993 and 1995, leading to the formation of GIA cells in France and Belgium
1994 Group Archive
Government of Algeria - GIA
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Troop Size: Missing
Secondary Support: In 1994 the Algerian government claimed that the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) was receiving weapons from Iran. This claim has not been possible to confirm. 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. It has, however, not been possible to establish to exactly which groups the support was given. Parts of the Algerian diaspora in France and Belgium have been associated with the GIA. These supporters were typically centered around fundamentalist circles and mosques. The typical support offered was of financial nature alongside recruitment opportunities and sanctuary for the members of the GIA. This support has been strongest between 1993 and 1995, leading to the formation of GIA cells in France and Belgium
1995 Group Archive
Government of Algeria - GIA
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Troop Size: Missing
Secondary Support: Parts of the Algerian diaspora in France and Belgium have been associated with the GIA. These supporters were typically centered around fundamentalist circles and mosques. The typical support offered was of financial nature alongside recruitment opportunities and sanctuary for the members of the GIA. This support has been strongest between 1993 and 1995, leading to the formation of GIA cells in France and Belgium.
AIS - GIA
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
1996 Group Archive
Government of Algeria - GIA
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Troop Size: 2000 - 3000
Comment on Troop Size: It was reported that the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) had between 2000 - 3000 fighters in 1996.
1997 Group Archive
GIA - Civilians
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Government of Algeria - GIA
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Troop Size: 50 - 100
Comment on Troop Size: GIA consists of small rebel groups each consists of less than 100 troops.
Secondary Support: In 1997 it was reported that Sudan gave arms to the Armed Islamic Group (GIA). The amount of arms given is not known.
AIS - GIA
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
1998 Group Archive
GIA - Civilians
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Government of Algeria - GIA
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Troop Size: 2000 - 3000
Comment on Troop Size: GIA consists of small rebel groups each consists of less than 100 troops, together they are estimated to consist of less than 3000 troops.
Secondary Support: In October 1998 the Algerian government claimed that Osama bin Ladens Al-Qaida was giving support to armed Islamist groups in Algeria. However, since these reports have not been possible to confirm and since it has not been established exactly which groups were given support, it is not possible to include this case.
AIS - GIA
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
1999 Group Archive
GIA - Civilians
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Government of Algeria - GIA
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Troop Size: < 3000
Comment on Troop Size: GIA consists of small rebel groups each consists of less than 100 troops, together they are estimated to consist of less than 3000 troops.
Secondary Support: In 1999 the Algerian authorities also blamed Morocco of harbouring what seems to have been Armed Islamic Group (GIA) rebels on their territory. Since it has not been possible to confirm these reports it is not possible to include this case.
2000 Group Archive
GIA - Civilians
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Government of Algeria - GIA
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Troop Size: < 1500
Comment on Troop Size: GIA consists of small rebel groups each consists of less than 100 troops, together they are estimated to consist of less than 1500 troops.
Secondary Support: In 2000 the Algerian authorities blamed Syria, Sudan and Libya for allowing rebels to train on their territory. Since it has not been possible to confirm these reports or to establish exactly which group Syria, Sudan and Libya were supposed to have given support to, it is not possible to include these cases.
2001 Group Archive
GIA - Civilians
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Government of Algeria - GIA
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Troop Size: < 1500
Comment on Troop Size: GIA consists of small rebel groups each consists of less than 100 troops, together they are estimated to consist of less than 1500 troops.
2002 Group Archive
GIA - Civilians
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Government of Algeria - GIA
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Troop Size: < 1500
Comment on Troop Size: GIA consists of small rebel groups each consists of less than 100 troops, together they are estimated to consist of less than 1500 troops.
2003 Group Archive
GIA - Civilians
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Government of Algeria - GIA
Comment on Name: Group islamique arme, Armed Islamic Group
Troop Size: 100
Comment on Troop Size: Approximately 100, GIA consists of small groups of between 50-100, total less than 500.
