Barkhane: France announces that it has neutralized a senior historical executive of AQIM

Ugo Pascolo 4:52 p.m., March 07, 2022

It is a neutralization considered "a new significant tactical success" for the Barkhane force in a tense context between Paris and the Malian junta in power.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces announced on Monday the neutralization of the Algerian jihadist Yahia Djouadi, alias Abou Ammar al Jazairi.

This operation was carried out on the night of February 25 to 26, 2022, by the Barkhane force, about 100 km north of Timbuktu, Mali.

A figure of Algerian jihadism

In its press release, the Ministry of the Armed Forces specifies that the neutralization of this historic player in the expansion of Al Qaeda and jihadist terrorism in West Africa was carried out by an intervention on the ground supported by an attack helicopter. Tiger and two French drones.

"Abou Ammar al Jazairi was a figure of Algerian jihadism. Engaged in a maquis of the Armed Islamic Group (GIA) in 1994 then the Islamist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC), he was military adviser to the historic Emir Abdelmalek Droukdal, neutralized on June 3, 2020 by the French forces of Operation Barkhane, before being appointed emir of the southern region of AQIM in 2007. Appointed emir of AQIM in Libya in 2015, he was forced, following successive neutralizations of AQIM executives, to reach Mali in 2019. […] He also plays the role of financial and logistical coordinator for the group."

#Barkhane |

On the night of February 25 to 26, in Mali, @BARKHANE_OP conducted an operation that resulted in the neutralization of Yahia Djaouadi, alias Abou Ammar al Jazairi, a senior historical AQIM executive.

pic.twitter.com/8szIYFLwDW

- French Army - Military Operations (@EtatMajorFR) March 7, 2022

Still according to the General Staff, this new neutralization of an AQIM executive "confirms the military strategy implemented by the Barkhane force". 

Neutralization in a tense context with Bamako

This "new success" comes in a context of strong tensions between France and Mali since February.

Due to the deterioration of relations with the ruling junta in Bamako, France, its European partners and Canada announced, on February 17, the withdrawal from Mali of the anti-jihadist military operations Barkhane and Takuba.

The next day, the junta had asked France to withdraw its troops "without delay", forcing Emmanuel Macron to step up, recalling that France will withdraw "in good order" and will not compromise for a second on the security of its troops. soldiers.