The Al-Qaeda emir in north Africa was killed on June 10 in a joint operation by France and partner forces in Mali.
According to France Defense Minister Florence Parly, the chief leader of the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb was killed alongside his inner circle members in northern Mali.
The daring operations dealt a severe blow to the Al-Qaeda operations in the Maghreb. Aged in his late 40s, Droukdel fought against Soviet troops in Afghanistan, and was thought to be inspired by the former leader of A-Qaeda in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
Under the reign of Droukdel, AQIM carried out numerous deadly attacks, including a 2016 assault on a hotel in the Burkina Faso capital Ouagadougou that left 30 dead and 150 injured.
As the emir of the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Droukdel was in charge of operations of all Al-Qaeda’s affiliates in north Africa. He also commanded A-Qaeda’s Sahel affiliate, Jamaat Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM).
In another separate joint operation, the military forces also captured a senior Islamic State group commander in Mali in an operation in May, according to Ms Parly.
The captured Islamic State group commander identified as Mohamed Mrabat, was a veteran jihadist and played a senior role in the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) group, Ms Parly said. Mrabat was caught on 19 May, she added.
There has been a battle of supremacy in the Sahel region. On May 7, IS revealed its fighters had been engaged in fierce clashes with Al-Qaeda in Mali and Burkina Faso. Islamic State blamed JNIM of attacking its positions, blocking fuel supplies and detaining its members.
ISGS has quickly established a foothold in the Sahel countries after announcing a presence in March last year.
The Defense Minister reiterated of France cooperation in ensuring that insurgent terrorists are defeated in the Sahel noting France and its partners will continue to hunt them relentlessly.
