By: TPA News Desk | African News | www.thepointafricanews.com/africa

The Malian army announced on Monday a significant victory in its counter-terrorism operations, confirming the killing of Souleymane Ag Bakawa, a prominent leader of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS), during a targeted mission in northern Mali. Ag Bakawa, notoriously known by his nom de guerre “Soldat,” was eliminated in the Tinfadimata area within the Menaka region.

According to the Malian armed forces (FAMA), “Soldat” was a particularly feared figure, directly overseeing an ISGS faction notorious for its brutal activities. The army’s statement highlighted his alleged direct involvement in numerous atrocities, including the kidnappings of civilians and the targeted killings of Malian Armed Forces personnel and innocent civilians in and around the town of Menaka.

This successful operation marks a crucial development in Mali’s ongoing struggle against jihadist groups that have plagued the Sahel region for years. The Islamic State in the Greater Sahara has been a persistent threat, responsible for widespread violence, displacement, and instability across the vast desert territories of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

The elimination of a high-ranking ISGS leader like Souleymane Ag Bakawa is expected to disrupt the group’s command and control structures and could temporarily impede its operational capabilities in the region. The Malian army has intensified its offensive operations against extremist strongholds, often supported by international partners, in a bid to restore state authority and security in the conflict-ridden northern and central parts of the country.