BAMAKO, Mali – In a significant military operation, the regime governing Mali has conducted drone strikes resulting in the deaths of eight leaders from the Tuareg rebel faction in the northern town of Tinzaouatine. This incident marks a notable escalation, as it is the largest number of Tuareg leaders to be killed in a single attack since the onset of their rebellion in 2012.
Spokesman Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane reported that synchronized drone strikes targeted the group on December 1, 2024, near the border with Algeria. The Tuareg faction, which refers to the northern region of Mali as Azawad, released a statement detailing the names of the fallen leaders, including Fahad Ag Al Mahmoud, who serves as the Secretary General of the Tuareg armed faction known as Gatia.
The Malian General Staff later confirmed the deaths, referring to the deceased as terrorists and branding the operation a “special mission.” This announcement was shared via the national television channel ORTM, reinforcing the military’s narrative surrounding the strikes.
Rida Lyammouri, a senior fellow at the Moroccan Policy Center for the New South, commented on the ramifications of this military action. He emphasized that the loss of such prominent leaders will deeply affect northern Malian communities, yet he warned that it could escalate anti-Bamako sentiments even further. “This setback does not imply that the conflict is resolved,” he stated, underscoring the ongoing tensions in the region.
Highlighting the junta’s determination, he noted that the recent drone strikes demonstrate the regime’s willingness to utilize its aerial capabilities whenever deemed necessary. The strikes came just one day following announcements from northern armed groups that they were consolidating into a single entity known as the Azawad Liberation Front. According to Ramadane, this new group aims to achieve full liberation for Azawad and establish the Azawad Authority, outlining an ambitious political and military goal for the region moving forward.
