French forces killed Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, the leader of the Islamic State in Greater Sahara, Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday morning.
“This is another major achievement in our fight against terrorist groups in Sahel,†the French president said on Twitter.
Abu Walid al-Sahrawi “died following a strike by the Barkhane force,†said Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly. On Twitter, she called the move “a decisive blow against this terrorist group,†the tackling of which was branded a “priority†for the coalition between France and African countries in January 2020.
“The nation is thinking this evening of all its heroes who died for France in the Sahel in the Serval and Barkhane operations, of the bereaved families, of all of its wounded. Their sacrifice is not in vain. With our African, European and American partners, we will continue this fight,†Macron’s Twitter statement reads.
At least 41 French soldiers have died in the Sahel region of northern Africa in 2013. After over eight years of military engagement in the region, Macron announced in June that France would withdraw its Barkhane force and would focus instead on the support-oriented Takuba task force.
