Sahel: France announces arrests and deaths among ISIS executives

Rumors have multiplied on the subject in recent weeks, they have just been confirmed.

Abdelhakim al-Sahraoui, "a very media figure of the Islamic State in the Great Sahara (EIGS) known for its very strict application of Sharia law" and his beheading videos, recently died, Florence Parly said on Friday during a a meeting with the Association of Defense Journalists (AJD).

"We have had confirmation that he died in May in still unknown circumstances," she said.

In addition, as part of an operation called Solstice, conducted in June by Barkhane, the Nigerien armed forces and the European task force Takuba, two lieutenants of the emir of the EIGS Adnan Abou Walid Sahraoui were taken prisoner. : Sidi Ahmed Ould Mohammed alias Katab al-Mauritani, as well as Dadi Ould Chouaib, alias Abou Dardar, whose capture has already been announced recently.

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Six other jihadists were "neutralized", specified the minister, including the Tuareg cadre of EIGS Almahmoud Al Baye alias Ikaray, presented as the "leader of a group of fighters in the Menaka region, on the border with the Niger ”.

Gradual disengagement

France is preparing to begin a gradual disengagement from the Sahel.

The Barkhane force, which currently has 5,100 men, will disappear in favor of a device refocused on the fight against terrorism and combat support for local armies, via the group of European special forces Takuba which has yet to gain strength.

According to the project studied by Paris, France plans to leave bases in northern Mali - Tessalit, Kidal and Timbuktu - by the end of 2021 to concentrate its presence on the rights-of-way of Gao and Ménaka, closer to the so-called "area of" three borders ”, on the borders of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as in Niamey, the capital of Niger.

Paris also intends to continue its hunt for the leaders of jihadist groups and has claimed several important successes in recent months.