Al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb is a Sunni organization which was formerly known as the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat.

VOA: standard.2009.12.09

The Algerian-based group al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb made the kidnapping claim in an audio tape given to the Al Jazeera television network.

VOA: standard.2009.12.09

The U.S.State Department has a travel advisory for Timbuktu because of past terrorist activities in the region by the group al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb.

VOA: standard.2010.02.25

Three militias now control the north, dominated by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

WSJ: U.S. Ties Libya Attack to 'Powder Keg' in Mali

But al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and their allies know the area all too well.

BBC: Camel train in the desert

Algerian officials reject claims they have any links with al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS