This week, in Mali, French forces killed Al-Qaeda ‘s leader, Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). Abdelmalek Droukdel, although with a low public profile, was one of the region’s most powerful Islamist warlords and his death is likely to affect jihadist groupings. Here is a summary of the incident on Thursday and how it could affect the volatile zone.
According to local sources, Droukdel and other AQIM leaders met at the late June 3rd in a river valley in northern Mali. The remote deserted valley is often used as a watering hole for animals, 20 kilometres from the Algerian border. The French forces were moving fast, first by an airstrike, and then by half a dozen helicopters and ground troops. Together with AQIM propagandist Toufik Chaib, Droukdel was killed in the battle. “One jihadist gave up and was arrested,” French Colonel Frederic Barbry said. The unlawful area where the raid was carried out is a junction for truckers who are sometimes forced to wait weeks to cross the border.
Data source: Ministry of Mali