The Malian army has killed several members of a newly formed separatist alliance in a large-scale operation in northern Mali. According to the army, the operation carried out on Sunday in Tinzaouatene near the Algerian border, led to the neutralization of eight individuals.
The army reported that among those killed was Fahad Ag Almahmoud, one of the leaders of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), a newly established coalition of Tuareg-led separatist groups. The FLA claimed that its members were targeted by synchronised drone strikes.
Formed just a day before the attack, the FLA describes itself as a politico-military entity aiming for the full liberation of Azawad, the territory they claim in northern Mali. The group had resumed hostilities against the state in 2023 after the UN mission was expelled by the ruling junta.
The Malian army stated that its operation dealt a severe blow to the separatist group, reducing their operational capacity significantly. The junta, which has been in power since a coup in 2021, has vowed to restore the country’s sovereignty and has labeled both rebels and separatists as “terrorists.”
The conflict in northern Mali has intensified since 2012, with the region becoming a stronghold for terror groups and separatist factions. Recent offensives by the Malian army have resulted in the loss of several towns by the separatists, including the capture of Kidal, a major symbolic and strategic site for the separatist movement.
