In a recent operation, Mali’s army has confirmed the death of a senior Islamic State commander involved in the 2017 Tongo Tongo ambush. Meanwhile, in Burkina Faso, media freedom faces harsh curbs amidst ongoing security woes in the Sahel region.
In a recent operation, Mali’s army has confirmed the death of Abu Huzeifa, also known as Higgo, a senior commander of the Islamic State group and a key figure in the 2017 Tongo Tongo ambush in Niger, which resulted in the deaths of four American and four Nigerien soldiers. The United States had previously issued a reward of up to $5 million for information leading to Huzeifa’s capture due to his significant role in this attack. The Malian military operation, carried out with the support of Tuareg armed forces in northern Mali, marks a strategic blow against Islamic State’s influence in the region. This operation underlines the ongoing security challenges in the Sahel, with Mali, under the leadership of Col. Assimi Goita since his 2021 coup, attempting to curb the decade-long insurgencies exacerbated by political instability.
In Burkina Faso, the situation remains tense as the government continues to restrict media freedom following allegations of an army-led massacre. International media outlets including BBC, Voice of America, The Guardian, and Le Monde have been suspended after reports surfaced of Burkinabe troops allegedly killing at least 223 individuals, many of whom were children, near the Mali border. These suspensions have drawn sharp criticism from organizations like Reporters Without Borders, highlighting the diminishing press freedom under the regime of Ibrahim Traoré, who took power following a 2022 coup. The incident has further complicated the regional security situation, already destabilized by insurgent activities spilling over from Mali.
