Mali: Drone Strikes in Tinzaouatène

Among the seven leaders of the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) who were killed, Fahad Ag Almahmoud is one of the best known.

Newstimehub

Newstimehub

2 Dec, 2024

One day after its establishment, the Azawad Liberation Front (FLA), which explicitly demands the independence of part of northern Mali, announced on Sunday that seven of its members had “fallen in the line of honor.”

Among the seven FLA leaders killed, Fahad Ag Almahmoud is one of the best known. Another is an opponent from the pro-government Imghad and Allies Self-Defense Group (Gatia). The deaths occurred just 24 hours after the creation of the new armed movement, attributed to several synchronized drone strikes by the Malian army, according to various sources.

The Azawad Liberation Front is made up of five former groups that decided to unite under the same flag. One of the new front’s innovations is its more radical stance, advocating for independence. Headquartered not far from the Algerian border, the FLA aims to take control of Azawad, the name it gives to part of northern Mali. To achieve this, in addition to on-the-ground actions, the new armed group has stated that it plans to launch an extensive diplomatic offensive to gain recognition from neighboring countries and international partners.