France

France says its troops killed a leading jihadist in the Sahel

cde.news desk 6 November 2019, 05:28 · 1 min read

epa03563595 A photograph made available 01 February 2013 shows French soldiers patrolling in the northern town of Diabaly, Mali, 22 January 2013. Malian soldiers began arriving in Kidal to support France in clearing Mali's last Islamist stronghold of insurgents, army sources said 31 January 2013. 'The Malian army is in Kidal with the French troops,' Malian army spokesman Diarran Kone told dpa. EPA/NIC BOTHMA

French troops killed one of the Sahel region’s leading jihadists on Oct. 9, France’s defence minister said.

Moroccan Ali Maychou of the Group to Support Islam and Muslims (GSIM) was “the second most-wanted terrorist in the Sahel, including by the Americans”, Florence Parly said aboard a government plane as she returned from an official visit to the West African region.

Ali Maychou was killed during the night of October 8 in Mali with the help of Malian troops and US support, Parly added

The GSIM has claimed responsibility for the biggest attacks in the Sahel since its official launch in 2017.

Comprising several jihadist groups linked to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), the GSIM alliance is led by a Tuareg Malian, Iyad Ag Ghaly, a 29-year veteran.

Via France 24

Filed under France

Topics al-Qaeda Florence Parly France GSIM Mali Terrorism

France says its troops killed a leading jihadist in the Sahel

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