Death of al-Sahraoui, head of EIGS, does not end violence in Sahel
Malian soldiers in operation in the three border zone, where EIGS is active, with French soldiers from Barkhane, during a village check in December 2019. (Illustrative image) RFI / Coralie Pierret
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
Adnan Abou Walid al-Sahraoui is dead.
The head of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, was killed during an air raid by the French force Barkhane in northeastern Mali.
The French president hailed a "
new major success in the fight against terrorist groups in the Sahel
".
And yet, in regions stricken by insecurity, the news of the death of the terrorist leader does not raise great hopes as in Tillabéri, in southwestern Niger.
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“
We are not relieved,
” explains Amadou Harouna Maïga, coordinator of the Union Tillabéri committee for peace, security and social cohesion.
“
They continue to kill, take livestock and burn granaries,
” he continues.
The attacks continue
In early 2021, violence by EIGS against civilians escalated in the Nigerien regions bordering Mali.
First there were the
Tchomabangou and Zaroumdareye massacres
which left around a hundred dead.
Then there was
Banibangou
where about fifty people died in March and finally Tillia, in the Tahoua region, where 137 people were murdered.
In June, Barkhane and the Nigerien army inflicted
heavy losses on EIGS
, but violence continues despite this.
Terrorists even attacked a village in Tillabéri last weekend, while President Mohamed Bazoum was traveling in this region.
"
The EIGS is dislocated and it will take time for them to reorganize,
" said a veteran from the region.
"
In the meantime, it is the civilians who are suffering, because they need resources and without executives, there is also more indiscipline
" he concludes.
For the Mauritanian journalist Isselmou Ould Moustapha, specialist in terrorism issues, his death is certainly a blow to the organization, but does not mean the end of violence in the region.
“
These organizations have a certain autonomy from their leaders.
They operate with various disparate groups with local commanders.
Ultimately, they only have a vague allegiance to a leader,
”analyzes the journalist.
►Also read: Sahel: what do we know about the death of al-Sahraoui, head of the Islamic State group in the Great Sahara?
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Niger
Terrorism
EI
Sahel