Mali’s army said it has killed Souleymane Ag Bakawa, a senior commander of Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) blamed for kidnappings and assassinations around the northeastern city of Ménaka.
In a statement late Monday, the armed forces said Bakawa died during a “rigorously planned” raid on Tinfadimata, about 80 km (50 miles) east of Ménaka, near the Niger border. The army gave no details of the clash but said the militant leader “personally directed multiple abductions of civilians and targeted killings of soldiers and local residents.”
The military said the operation underscores its determination to “defend the integrity of national territory and eradicate terrorist threats,” urging citizens to remain vigilant and support security forces.
Mali has battled jihadist groups linked to both Islamic State and al Qaeda since 2012. Fighting has intensified in the north and centre despite a buildup of Malian troops and foreign contractors. ISGS has been particularly active around Ménaka, where massacres and mass displacement last year drew U.N. warnings of a humanitarian emergency.