Group to Support Islam and Muslims says it ‘detonated an explosive device’ as French armoured vehicle passed by. Al-Qaeda’s branch in North Africa has claimed responsibility for killing two French soldiers who died when their armoured vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in eastern Mali. The deaths brought to 50 the number of French soldiers killed in the West African nation since France first intervened in 2013 to help drive back armed groups. A year ago, French President Emmanuel Macron designated the EIGS as the number one enemy in the Sahel region. France’s Barkhane operation counts 5,100 troops spread across the arid Sahel region and has been fighting armed groups alongside soldiers from Mauritania, Chad, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, which together make up the G5 Sahel group.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 05, 2021 11:19 UTC