<a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=ET">Ethiopia</a>, <a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=KE">Kenya</a>, <a href="terrorist_organizations_by_country.asp?id=SO">Somalia</a>

Middle East financiers; Remittances originating in Western Europe

Al-Ittihaad al-Islami (AIAI) is a fundamentalist organization that seeks to create an Islamic state in Somalia and Ethiopia.  The group has operated as a terrorist organization primarily in Somalia, but also in Ethiopia and Kenya.   While AIAI was formed in the late 1980s, it did not become a significant presence until the early 1990s.   <P><br /><br />AIAI was originally comprised of several Somali insurgent groups who aimed to overthrow Somali dictator Mohammed Siad Barre. After a 22-yead dictatorship, Siad Barre was eventually ousted in 1991.  Following Barre's ouster, AIAI terrorist operations expanded significantly.  The group operated with the principal objective to establish an Islamic state in Somalia and Ethiopia.  The terrorist organization initially operated almost exclusively in Somalia.  However in the mid 1990s, AIAI initiated several attacks against Ethiopian security forces on Ethiopian soil.  AIAI's specific goal with these attacks was to gain control of the Ogaden region of Ethiopia, which borders with Somalia.  In addition to fomenting Islamic extremism within Somalia and Ethiopia, AIAI assisted al-Qaeda in the 1998 East African embassy bombings.  It is suspected that certain AIAI members maintain ties to al-Qaeda.

During the 1990s, two significant developments severely weakened AIAI's terrorist operations.  First, prompted by AIAI's cross-border terrorist attacks, the Ethiopian military initiated an assault on the group, which was largely successful and reduced the operational numbers of AIAI terrorists.  Second, the eastern Somali regions of Bari and Nugaal and northern Mudug created a semiautonomous state called Puntland.  The self-governing, secular area largely forced AIAI's elements out of the area.  Consequently, the number of AIAI members dwindled to roughly 2,000 and even those members are now scattered among many small cells.  Partly due to its decreased ability to conduct terrorist attacks and partly to build political support for itself, AIAI moved increasingly towards involvement and sponsorship of Islamic social programs.