Mali’s army said on Saturday it had arrested the leader of the Islamic State in Greater Sahara (EIGS), a terrorist organization in the Sahel region.
The army announced that it had arrested two men, Mahamad Ould Erkehile “alias Abu Rakiya” and Abu Hash, and described the latter as “the head of the First Order”.
What did Mali’s army say?
A statement from the General Staff of the Malian Armed Forces said it carried out the operation on Friday that also killed several of the group’s fighters.
It also claimed to have recovered materials intended for the manufacture of improvised explosive devices.
Mali’s military said Hash was responsible for the “worst atrocities” against civilians and coordinating attacks against the army in the northeastern Menaka and Gao regions.
“The main investigation confirms that he actively collaborated with Abu Huzefa and Osama Madallo, two terrorist leaders who had already been neutralized,” it said.
Violence is causing instability in the region
Communities in central and northern Mali have suffered instability and violence since groups linked to al-Qaeda and the so-called “Islamic State” began attacks in 2012.
The security situation in the country has worsened since the military junta took power in 2020 and the government has struggled to curb the violence.
Mali is one of several West African states that have been subject to coups in recent years.
The military took power in neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso in 2023, citing the threat posed by Islamist groups.
mk/ab (AFP, EFE)