SUMMARY

GIA (Groupe Islamique Armé, Armed Islamic Group), also known as Al-Jama’ah al-Islamiyah al-Musallah, was an Algerian rebel group. When AIS (Armée Islamique du Salut, Islamique Salvation Army), the other large rebel group in Algeria declared a nationwide ceasefire and denounced the use of violence towards civilians in 1997, a conflict arose within GIA. The ceasefire subsequently led to the creation of several splinter groups that have been active in various categories of organized violence.

The episode of violence that entered the dyad into the UCDP data took place in the summer of 1998. There is some uncertainty as to the level of precision concerning the dates, but it is reported to have taken place during June. The incident was in direct connection with the disintegration of GIA, there were at the time several newly formed splinter groups, looking for support and in cases like this; fighting each other over ideological standpoints. The violence took place in the mountainous border area in the far west. As the tensions rose and the conflict escalated and became violent the Algerian army ANP (National Peoples Army) had surrounded the mountains and left the rebels little choice but to surrender. In the battles that took place 56 people lost their lives. This, the only recorded event of violence in this dyad, was obviously not followed by any further disturbances. The general security in Algeria was nevertheless dire; despite the short life span of this dyad there were plenty of other groups that continued the rebel cause in Algeria.

The non-state conflict between the GIA – El Forkane Battalion and the GIA – El Khadra Battalion is first included in UCDP data in 1998. A period with large violence in early June resulted in more than 25 battle-related deaths.