President Emmanuel Macron of France has announced that French forces have killed the leader of the Islamic State terrorist group in the Sub-Sahara, Adna Abou Walid al Sahraoui.
According to Mr Macron, “Adna Abou Walid al Sahraoui, leader or the Islamic State terrorist group in the Sahara, has been neutralized by French forces.”
He noted that “this is another major success in our fight against the terrorist groups in the Sahel.”
Mr Macron announced the killing in a tweet.
Adnan Abou Walid al Sahraoui, chef du groupe terroriste État islamique au Grand Sahara a été neutralisé par les forces françaises. Il s’agit d’un nouveau succès majeur dans le combat que nous menons contre les groupes terroristes au Sahel.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) September 15, 2021
The ‘later’ Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahraoui reportedly led a militant group that claimed responsibility for an attack in 2017 that resulted in the killing of four American soldiers. The four American soldiers were reportedly on patrol with Nigerien forces.
Following the 2017 attack, Mr. Al-Sahraoui, believed to be a former member of Al Qaeda, in August 2020, a statement from Mr Macron’s office published by Reuters, revealed, personally ordered the killing of six French charity workers and their Nigerien driver.