Diplomatic Murders and the Sahel
The murders of the Egyptian and Algerian diplomats in Iraq reinforces the fact that al Qaeda’s war is not only against the United States, but also against Muslim governments. As discussed in al Qaeda's Diplomatic Mission, one goal of the murders is to discredit the Iraqi government and force foreign governments to withdraw their diplomatic missions. Another purpose is to destabilize Arab governments considered apostates for their unwillingness to adhere to the Islamist form of government and for their cooperation with Western governments. This can be clearly seen in the case of the kidnapping and murder of the Algerian diplomats.
In al Qaeda and the Algerian terrorist group Salafist Group for Call and Combat [GSPC] communiqués on the kidnapping, interrogation and murder of the Algerian diplomats, it is quite clear the government of Algeria is a direct target due to its overly secular nature. The GSPC is the African arm of al Qaeda, and to highlight the relationship, the GSPC “praises and congratulates their courageous mujahideen brothers for their courageous jihadi strike” in the kidnapping of the Algeria diplomats. From the GSPC communiqué where al Qaeda claims to have extracted “confessions” from the diplomats:
With regards to Ali Belaroussi, we can say that he has shown nationalist tendencies and is opposed to the establishment of an Islamic state. Therefore, we urge you, brothers, to videotape the confessions of these two conniving men the same way you did with the Egyptian diplomat. Hopefully, this will help uncover the truth behind the [Algerian] regime and will reveal its ugly face for anyone who is not familiar with it.
And from the communiqué by Zarqawi where the murder of the diplomats was announced:
This is the response to the transgression of contemporary idolatrous governments who have made their regimes and laws above those of Allah; who have governed the Muslims with non-Islamic laws; who have fought against anyone who supports the supreme goal of applying Shariah law; who have killed the honest mujahideen; and, who have become allies to the Jews and Crusaders. The diplomats of these governments are valid targets for the mujahideen wherever they are…
Zarqawi is clear that not only is the non-Islamist nature of these governments grounds for attacks, any cooperation with Western governments ensures al Qaeda’s wrath. Zarqawi is scornful of African nations who cooperate in efforts such as the Pan Sahel Initiative, which began in November of 2004 “to assist Mali, Niger, Chad, and Mauritania in detecting and responding to suspicious movement of people and goods across and within their borders through training, equipment and cooperation” with the goals of “waging the war on terrorism and enhancing regional peace and security.” [More on the Pan Sahel Initiative at Global Security.]
The Pan Sahel Initiative was replaced with the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Initiative, and the countries of Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Nigeria and Senegal were added to the original members of the Pan Sahel Initiative. In June, a joint military exercises called Operation Flintlock was conducted between the United States and the nine countries, where “700 U.S. troops ran about 2,100 soldiers from nine North and West African nations through counterterrorism exercises including mock patrols, target practice -- even airborne parachute drills.”
As a large percentage (estimated at about 25%) of al Qaeda recruits in Iraq are coming from Sub-Saharan Africa, Zarqawi is right to despise and fear an increased US presence in the region. And greater US engagement in the region only serves to make al Qaeda’s dream of their repressive Islamist Caliphate more difficult to achieve.
