Intelligence

Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group

MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base

Mothertongue Name: Groupe Islamique Combattant Morrocain (GICM)

Base of Operation: Afghanistan; Belgium; Denmark; Egypt; France; Morocco; Spain; Turkey; United Kingdom

Founding Philosophy: The Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group, or GICM, is dedicated to the creation of an Islamist state in Morocco. It has issued communiqués criticizing the current Moroccan government. In addition, the group actively supports al-Qaeda’s terrorist objectives against U.S. and Western European countries. Moroccan members of GICM trained in Afghanistan terrorist-training camps. GICM and al-Qaeda are allies and the two groups share members.

The roots of the Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group can be traced to the Moroccan organization, Shabiba Islamiya. Shabiba Islamiya split into two factions and GICM emerged as one of the two factions. According to certain reports, at the time of GICM’s founding, it was primarily comprised of mujahadin who had fought in the Soviet-Afghan war. The group was formed in the 1990s, but there are conflicting reports regarding the exact date.

Current Goals: GICM is an active member of the international jihadi movement. In addition to its presence in North Africa, GICM members are positioned in Western Europe. The group fosters relationships with other North African extremists. According to a pro-government paper in Morocco, a GICM member confessed to police that GICM requested help from al-Qaeda. The GICM member stated that Usama bin Laden’s second-in-command, Ayman al-Zawahiri, met with a senior member of GICM. While GICM is dedicated to the creation of an Islamist state in Morocco, it is clear that the group has more international ambitions. In October 2005, the group was designated as a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the U.S. State Department.

November 24, 2005 at 12:50 PM in Al Qaeda | Permalink | Top of page | Blog Home