Malian Army Says it has Killed Islamic State Commander Responsible for Attacks on US, Niger Forces

Bamako: A senior Islamic State group commander wanted in connection with deaths of US forces in Niger was killed in an operation by Malian state forces, country's army said. Abu Huzeifa, known by alias Higgo, was a commander in group known as Islamic State in Greater Sahara. State Department h announced a reward of up to $5 million for information about him.

Huzeifa is believed to have helped carry out an attack in 2017 on US and Nigerien forces in Tongo Tongo, Niger, which resulted in deaths of four Americans and four Nigerien soldiers. Following attack, US military scaled back operations with local partners in Sahel.

“ identification and clues gared confirm death of Abu Huzeifa dit Higgo, a foreign terrorist of great renown,” Malian army said in a statement late Monday.

Moussa Ag Acharatoumane, leer of a Tuareg armed group allied with state, said his forces participated in operation, and that it took place in norrn region of Mali.

A photo of Huzeifa on state television showed him in army fatigues with a long black beard and a machine gun in his hands.

Mali has experienced two coups since 2020 during a wave of political instability that has swept across West and Central Africa. country has battled a worsening insurgency by jihi groups linked to al-Qaida and Islamic State group for over a dece.

killing of Islamic State group commander over weekend “could mean less violence against civilians in area, but threat remains high since for sure re are leers with similar brutality rey to take over and prove mselves,” said Rida Lyammouri of Policy Center for New South, a Morocco-based think tank.

Colonel Assimi Goita, who took charge after second coup in 2021, has vowed to end insurgency. His ruling junta has cut military ties with France amid growing frustration with a lack of progress after a dece of assistance and turned to Russian mercenaries from Wagner group for security support inste.

Mali has also formed a security alliance with Niger and Burkina Faso, which are also battling worsening insurgencies and have also experienced coups in recent years.

Although ir militaries promised to end insurgencies after deposing ir respective elected governments, conflict analysts say violence has inste worsened under ir regimes.

All three nations share borders in conflict-hit Sahel region and ir security forces are overstretched in fighting jihi violence.