Abdelmalek Droukdel was killed by French troops on Thursday in northern Mali near the Algerian border, where the group has bases it uses to carry out bombings and abductions of Westerners, Defence Minister Florence Parly said. Northern Mali is the site of frequent clashes between rival armed groups, as well as a haven for jihadist activity. Despite the presence of thousands of French and UN troops, the conflict has engulfed the centre of the country and spread to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger. A source told AFP that some 500 jihadist fighters had been killed or captured by French troops in the region in recent months, among them several leading figures including commanders and recruiters. Droukdel's death is a symbolic coup for the French, a military source said.

Source: Standard Digital June 07, 2020 06:11 UTC