International Journal on Criminology Volume 4, Number 2, Winter 2016 | Page 55

Know What You Are Fighting
Sharing the Spoils, Unnatural Alliances
In these groups, the “spoils” come from racketeering, theft, and heists. It is
shared in the same way as criminal gangs. One-fifth of the spoils is reserved for the
“emir” and the rest goes to the head of the group that led the operation and that takes
the lion’s share. The remainder goes to the “soldiers.” This procedure is called El Feii,
a mythical reference to sharing the spoils of war. If women are taken (captives called
Sabaya), the emir chooses first and takes the most beautiful ones.
The acts of violence are left up to the initiative of the heads of groups, regions,
or zones, depending on the opportunities available. These group leaders then notify
those above them once the crime is committed. Failure in an action is often punished.
The head of a large group has a praetorian guard formed of the most trustworthy
members, with local origin and family ties the most decisive. Known as the “Green
Phalange” of the GIA, this guard accompanies the leader in his movements and
executes the undesirables in the group. Beyond its constant mission of protecting
the emir from internal plots or assassination attempts from the outside, this guard
contributes to important operations, supports the combatants of the group, and
watches over the spoils of the emir. Calling themselves “upholders of the law,” these
extremists advance the argument (that all terrorists around the world use) according
to which “any means are legitimate when serving a sacred cause,” with terrorism
representing a profitable market.
In addition, there are the alliances between terrorists and traffickers, in Algeria
and beyond, because the “sacred cause” authorizes these unnatural alliances with
criminals of all stripes. The terrorists find in the traffickers an offer of indispensable
products but also a source of enrichment. Out of avidity, the criminals trade with
the terrorists, share their know-how, and engage in mutual exchanges of services. In
analyzing the cases solved, the security services see mixed networks (bandits and
terrorists) trafficking vehicles, arms, munitions, and drugs, all contraband that brings
money to the terrorists.
A number of smugglers and traffickers are allied with terrorist groups; and
terrorists join organized crime in the opposite direction. A striking example is that
of the Algerian terrorist leader Mokhtar Belmokhtar, a smuggler in the south of the
country who became the emir of region nine of the GIA and remains active to this day.
Terrorist Means and Methods of Action
The active groups in the Sahel act according to the opportunities available,
but their methods are all quite analogous. They use improvised explosive devices,
firearms, or melee weapons. Their victims are killed in ambushes, individual attacks,
or group massacres. Ruse and surprise are their favorite means of maximizing the
success of their attacks. To protect themselves better, the terrorists choose their targets
according to their vulnerability: isolated populations and members of the security
services traveling unarmed in high-risk zones are their favorite targets.
54