By RFPosted on 02-11-2019Modified on 02-11-2019 at 22:33

The Islamic State jihadist group claimed on Saturday (November 2nd) in a statement the deadly attack on Friday against an army camp in Mali that killed at least 49 soldiers in the north-east of the country.

" Caliphate soldiers attacked a military base stationed with elements of the Malian army apostate in the village of Indelimane, in the region of Menaka, " says the Islamic State organization in a statement on its Telegram and signed " Province West Africa ", that is to say the Islamic State in the Great Sahara.

According to several sources, it is probably the number 2 of this jihadist group that led the attack. Abdel Hakim al-Sahraoui knows the area well. In 2012, during the occupation of northern Mali by the Islamists, he was the real boss of the city of Gao. He has his network. Under the leadership of his leader Abu Walid, he organizes operations sometimes in Mali, sometimes in Niger.

Friday's attack on Indelimane , in Ansongo, near Menaka (north-east of the country), was described as " terrorist " by the Malian authorities even before the ISIS claim.

This attack left at least 49 dead in the ranks of the Malian army. Military equipment was also destroyed. The reinforcement dispatched to the scene discovered about twenty survivors, and raking operations took place, according to military sources.

The UN Mission in Mali (Minusma) " strongly condemned the terrorist attack " and said that " security operations are underway in the region with the support of peacekeepers ".

It came one month after the deadly jihadist attacks, on September 30 in Boulkessi and on October 1 in Mondoro, in the south of the country, near Burkina Faso. Forty soldiers were then killed in these two attacks, according to a report of an official of the Ministry of Defense. Several sources estimate that this official record of 40 deaths has been undervalued.

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