Editing Al-Qaeda (section)

=== Africa ===
{{Main|Al-Qaeda involvement in Africa}}

[[File:GSPC map.png|thumb|[[Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb]] (formerly [[Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat|GSPC]]) area of operations]]

[[Al-Qaeda involvement in Africa]] has included a number of bombing attacks in North Africa, while supporting parties in civil wars in Eritrea and Somalia. From 1991 to 1996, bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders were based in Sudan.

Islamist rebels in the [[Sahara]] calling themselves [[al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb]] have stepped up their violence in recent years.<ref name="Trofimov 2009">{{Cite news|last1=Trofimov|first1=Yaroslav|author1-link=Yaroslav Trofimov|title=Islamic rebels gain strength in the Sahara|work=The Wall Street Journal|volume=254|issue=39|date=August 15, 2009|page=A9|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB125030117348933737|access-date=September 15, 2009|archive-date=May 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130514132756/http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125030117348933737.html|url-status=live}}</ref> French officials say the rebels have no real links to the al-Qaeda leadership, but this has been disputed. It seems likely that bin Laden approved the group's name in late 2006, and the rebels "took on the al Qaeda franchise label", almost a year before the violence began to escalate.<ref>{{Harvnb|Riedel|2008|p=126}}.</ref>

In Mali, the [[Ansar Dine]] faction was also reported as an ally of al-Qaeda in 2013.<ref>Baba Ahmed and Jamey Keaten, Associated Press (January 12, 2013) [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/01/11/french-action-against-mali/1828181/ Hundreds of French troops drive back Mali rebels] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171009223902/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/01/11/french-action-against-mali/1828181/ |date=October 9, 2017 }}. ''USA Today''. Retrieved August 4, 2013</ref> The Ansar al Dine faction aligned themselves with the [[al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb|AQIM]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=a_Xhxv5YDjkC&pg=PA137 Ansar al Dine]. Google Books. Retrieved August 4, 2013</ref>

In 2011, al-Qaeda's North African wing condemned Libyan leader [[Muammar Gaddafi]] and declared support for the [[Anti-Gaddafi forces|Anti-Gaddafi rebels]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-libya-alqaeda-idUKTRE71N12X20110224|title=Al Qaeda backs Libyan protesters, condemns Gaddafi|work=Reuters|date=February 24, 2011|access-date=March 29, 2024|archive-date=March 26, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326133358/https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-libya-alqaeda-idUKTRE71N12X20110224|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8344417/Libya-al-Qaeda-backs-protesters.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8344417/Libya-al-Qaeda-backs-protesters.html|archive-date=January 10, 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|title=Libya: al-Qaeda backs protesters|website=The Telegraph|date=February 24, 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Following the [[2011 Libyan Civil War|Libyan Civil War]], the removal of Gaddafi and the ensuing period of [[post-civil war violence in Libya]], various [[Islamist]] militant groups affiliated with al-Qaeda were able to expand their operations in the region.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8860684/Libya-revolutionaries-turn-on-each-other-as-fears-grow-for-law-and-order.html|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8860684/Libya-revolutionaries-turn-on-each-other-as-fears-grow-for-law-and-order.html|archive-date=January 10, 2022|url-access=subscription|url-status=live|title=Libya: revolutionaries turn on each other as fears grow for law and order|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=October 31, 2011|access-date=November 10, 2013|location=London|first1=Nick|last1=Meo}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The [[2012 Benghazi attack]], which resulted in the death of [[US Ambassador]] [[J. Christopher Stevens]] and three other Americans, is suspected of having been carried out by various [[Jihadist]] networks, such as [[al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb]], [[Ansar al-Sharia]] and several other al-Qaeda affiliated groups.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/libyans-storm-ansar-al-shariah-compound-in-backlash-after-attack-on-us-consulate/|title=Libyans storm Ansar Al-Shariah compound in backlash after attack on US Consulate|publisher=Fox News|date=September 21, 2012|access-date=November 10, 2013|archive-date=September 26, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926021008/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/09/21/libyans-storm-ansar-al-sharia-compound-in-backlash-attack-on-us-consulate/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/02/world/africa/us-libya-benghazi-suspects|title=Sources: 3 al Qaeda operatives took part in Benghazi attack|publisher=CNN|date=May 4, 2013|access-date=November 10, 2013|archive-date=May 13, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513205605/http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/02/world/africa/us-libya-benghazi-suspects|url-status=live}}</ref> The capture of [[Nazih Abdul-Hamed al-Ruqai]], a senior al-Qaeda operative wanted by the United States for his involvement in the [[1998 United States embassy bombings]], on October 5, 2013, by [[US Navy Seals]], [[FBI]] and [[CIA]] agents illustrates the importance the US and other Western allies have placed on North Africa.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/05/world/africa/us-forces-africa-terrorist-raids/index.html|title=U.S. forces raid terror targets in Libya, Somalia|publisher=CNN|date=October 6, 2013|access-date=November 10, 2013|archive-date=November 10, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110025849/http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/05/world/africa/us-forces-africa-terrorist-raids/index.html?|url-status=live}}</ref>