Algeria: Nefarious terrorist activity in decline except for isolated acts

Algerian security reports describe 2013 as the quietest year in the last decade. Terrorist attacks fell to their lowest level since 2002, with the most significant decrease found in the traditional strongholds of terrorism in the east.

Carefully planned security operations succeeded in neutralizing top ring-leaders of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Algerian forces also stopped AQIM plots against official buildings, as well as plans to abduct foreign nationals during the holy month of fasting of Ramadan.

“The decline in armed attacks in 2012 is due to the strong pressure exerted by the Algerian security services on the strongholds of armed terrorist groups,” a military source said.

Algerian Counter-terrorism units have also increased their presence on the border with Libya. The move led to the arrest of 40 of AQIM elements on the Libyan border.

Officials attribute the significant slump in armed terrorist attacks to heavy pressures imposed by security services. Last year witnessed a major shift in counter-terrorism strategy, with a new focus on the ring-leaders of armed terrorist groups.

Algerian Counter-terrorism units sought to target the “grey matter” of the terrorist organization leading to the arrest or elimination of several Aqmi chieftains.

According to a security source, “experience acquired over two decades has helped Algerian security forces deal with these terrorist groups, especially by targeting their heads and reaching the sources of information.”

Algeria’s unflagging struggle against the heinous scourge of terrorism also entered a new stage in 2012 by focusing on intelligence work and using advanced monitoring technologies. Security services created a data centre to identify specific targets.

The marked drop in the number of terrorist operations in recent months is proof that weakened “Aqmi” has been utterly caught off guard by such telling intelligence achievements, especially in the eastern regions of Algeria, according to analysts.