On Monday, French Defence Minister Florence Parly announced the success of a counter-terrorism operation in Mali that led to the death of 50 terrorists with known links to the al-Qaeda group. She said, “I would like to reveal an operation of great importance which was carried out on October 30 in Mali by the Barkhane force, which was able to neutralise more than 50 jihadists and confiscated arms and material.”
Further, Colonel Frederic Barbry, the spokesperson for the French military reported that four others had been captured. He noted that during the “anti-jihadist” operation, explosives, and suicide vests were confiscated. French officials suspect that this equipment was going to be used for an attack on the French army in the region. He also said that another such operation to target the “Islamic State in Greater Sahara” was also being organised.
General Marc Conruyt became the new commander of the Barkhane force earlier this year. He was appointed to overlook the formation of the “Takuba Force”, which is an elite force that was specifically trained to help soldiers in Mali combat the surge in violence and terrorism in the region. The October 30 attack was the first operation orchestrated by the newly assembled force.
The attack was conducted near Mali’s border with Burkina Faso and Niger, where French forces have been deployed to counter the surge in the insurgency. Parly also said that the attack was launched through an airstrike following the detection of “very large motorcycle caravans” in the region. Two Mirage fighter jets and a drone were consequently used to “neutralise” 30 motorcycles.
Parly celebrated this as a “significant blow” to the Ansarul Islam Group, who is linked to the Support Group for Islam and Muslims, a regional ally of the Al Qaeda. The Ansarul Islam Group is led by Iyad Ag Ghaly, who has been growing increasingly powerful in the Sahel region.
Violence has tainted Mali since 2012, since the rise of the brutal jihadist insurgency in the region. Following this, France, who was a former colonial power in Mali, spearheaded a counter-terrorism military operation in 2013. However, the jihadists have continued to orchestrate violent attacks across the region, leading to the death and displacement of hundreds. Moreover, large parts of Mali continue to remain outside the control of the government. The new interim government came into power following a military coup on August 18. Mali’s military junta, headed by Assimi Goïta, appointed former defence minister Colonel Major Ba N’Daou as Mali’s interim president for 18 months. Days later, N’Daou appointed former foreign affairs minister Moctar Ouane as the country’s new prime minister.
The transitional government has time and again expressed their support for a dialogue-based solution to the insurgency problem, which has entrapped Mali in a cycle of violence. In fact, a few weeks ago, reports emerged suggesting a disagreement between French and Malian officials on the need to engage in negotiations with the jihadist leaders in the region. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian had strongly opposed this proposal. However, Ouane said that a vote by local leaders conducted in 2019 had “very clearly indicated the need for an offer of dialogues with [jihadist] armed groups.” Moreover, the need to enter into negotiations with these groups is further heightened by the increasing “sympathy” amongst communities towards “Sahel jihadists.”
France Conducts Counter-Terrorism Operation in Mali, Kills 50
The attack was orchestrated by the Takuba Force, which is an elite force that was specifically trained to help soldiers in Mali combat the surge in violence and terrorism in the region.
November 4, 2020
SOURCE: REUTERS