International hostages held captive in western Sahel
SOURCES: MENASTREAMCREDIT: JULES DUHAMEL
“Islamic State in Burkina Faso”
For the first time ever did Islamic State Central officially publish a media product related to the militant group Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS). A modest release limited to a low-quality photo showing seven of the group’s fighters wearing military fatigues, equipped with AK rifles, an RPG launcher, and flying a black standard. …
Exclusive: End of the run for Tunisian Ansar al-Sharia founder Abu Iyadh al-Tunisi
Seifallah Ben Hassine, commonly known as Abu Iyadh al-Tunisi—one of North Africa’s most influential jihadi ideologues—is confirmed to have been killed on February 21, 2019, in northern Mali. A senior Tunisian Al-Qaida member, Afghanistan veteran, and founder of the Islamist organization Ansar al-Sharia in Tunisia (AST) is now confirmed to have been killed in an …
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Burkina Faso: Attack against customs checkpoint in Nohao, customs officers and Spanish priest killed
(Updated) Around 17h local time, presumed militants attacked a customs checkpoint in Nohao, situated in the Boulgou Province on national route 16 between Cinkansé and Bittou, near the Ghanaian border. Four customs officers were killed in the attack and three vehicles burned. Koglweogo militiamen arriving at the site were told by the militants to make …
Burkina Faso: Airstrike hit village 130km from the actual target
On January 30, around 17h30 local time, JNIM militants aboard a 4×4 vehicle and motorbikes, equipped with RPGs and machine guns attacked the army camp in Kompienbiga, located in the country’s east. The militants overran the military camp, took control of the site, and torched vehicles of substantial worth including ACMAT Bastion armored vehicles, Toyota …
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Mali: Al-Mourabitoun commander and associates killed amidst Barkhane operation near Tabankort
On July 29, French forces of Operation Barkhane conducted a military operation in the Tilemsi Valley, specifically in the area of Ersane near Tabankort, Gao Region. The operation was initiated by an airstrike followed by a ground assault. The operation resulted in the killing of Himama Ould Lekhweir (alt. Hamama Ould al-Khuwayyir) and at least thirteen of …
Libya: Tunisian AQIM commander killed in Ubari airstrike
In the evening of July 25, an unknown aircraft conducted an airstrike that struck a vehicle in front of a house in the Al-Sharib district of Ubari. An area mainly inhabited by Libyan and Malian Tuareg. The airstrike briefly interrupted electricity and telecommunications. The air raid was initially assumed to have been carried out by …
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Mali: “The old man of the mountain”
Timely, two days ahead of Mali’s presidential elections, the emir of Jama’ah Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), Iyad Ag Ghaly made his first appearance since the announcement of the merger in March last year, which gathered several militant factions into a Sahelian jihadi conglomerate. A beard grey of age and whitened by the sun, cut into …
Mali: Malian soldiers held in captivity by JNIM appeal for their release
In a previously unpublished “proof of life” video named “Appeal of the detainees”, dated October 1, 2017 by Al-Zallaqa, the media wing of Jama’ah Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) – Malian soldiers held in captivity by the group, appeal to the Malian people, the Malian government and in particular the president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita for help to …
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Mali: Multipronged attack on Malian army base in Almoustarat
Early on Sunday morning, an attack by unknown gunmen targeted a Malian army position in Almoustarat, located in the Tilemsi Valley, Gao Region, about 150km north of the regional capital Gao. The assailants cut off the local telephone network hampering communications from the village and also reporting about the events that had taken place. A not …
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