A military operation launched this week by Malian and French forces has reportedly eliminated 26 militants. Mali's military command said in a statement that the operation took place early Monday in Alatona, near the border with Mauritania. According to the mililtary, the operation targeted militants who had staged an ambush on Saturday, although no further details on the attack were provided. The Malian army claims "26 terrorists" were killed in the joint operation, "a large quantity of arms" captured along with two pick-up trucks. Former colonial power France, which intervened in Mali in 2013 to beat back the jihadists, has 5,100 soldiers deployed across the Sahel region as part of Operation Barkhane.

Source: The North Africa Journal April 28, 2021 14:15 UTC