Death of Aqmi chief: "Barkhane will have succeeded in a major blow"

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French soldiers in the Sahel. AFP / Michele Cattani

By: Christophe Boisbouvier Follow

It may be a turning point in the war in the Sahel. France has announced the death in northern Mali of the Algerian jihadist Abdelmalek Droukdel, the historic head of Aqmi, the branch of al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb. What is the reaction of observers in Mali? Ibrahim Maïga is a researcher at the ISS, the Institute for Security Studies. Online from Bamako, he answers questions from Christophe Boisbouvier.

  • Sahel
  • Mali
  • al-Qaeda