US military announces death of top Al-Qaeda terrorist in Africa

NAIROBI, Kenya - The US Africa Command has announced the death of a top Islamic militant in Africa, crediting the French forces for the latest victory, which is termed as "win" for civilians who had been victims of terrorism for decades.

Abdelmalek Droukdal, the emir of Islamic Maghreb [AQIM], an affiliate of Al-Qaeda in North and West Africa, was killed during an operation conducted by French Special Forces and their allies in Mali on Friday, AFRICOM said in a statement on Monday, in reference to French authorities

Also killed during the operation were several collaborators who are linked to endless attacks targeting civilians in the two regions. The US Africa Command also confirmed death independently according to AFRICOM.

Droukdal, the US Africa Command said, served as the emir of AQIM and was involved in all aspects of the organization to include financing, planning, and the facilitation and execution of terrorist attacks.

Rear Admiral Heidi Berg, U.S. Africa Command director of intelligence, also linked the slain terrorist to Kidnappings targeting people of West Africa, which are used ostensibly for extortion purposes.

“Droukdal was the engineer behind expanding AQIM’s ideology throughout the Sahel and Maghreb, and more recently into western Africa, where aligned elements have conducted attacks and kidnappings from Nigeria to Cote d’Ivoire,” he said in a statement.

“He was responsible for numerous attacks and the deaths of hundreds of innocent civilians," he noted, adding that the death was a major liberation to the people of Africa in the war against violent extremism.

As a partner in this French-led mission, and as an example of our continued cooperation and partnership to counter a common threat, U.S. Africa Command provided intelligence and Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance support, he added.

The operation permanently eliminated the most senior decision-maker of AQIM and the likely architect of the Sahel-based jihadist movement, which is linked to many deaths of security forces and innocent civilians.

“Droukdal’s leadership and capabilities enabled al-Qa’ida’s Mali-based organizations to significantly increase instability in the Sahel,” said Berg.

This result reflects the sustained commitment and effort the French are providing in West Africa, where an international model continues to enhance security and stability efforts. He described the death as the win for Africans.

“This wasn’t just a win for France and the US or even the nations of the Sahel. It was a win for every nation that opposes terrorism and violence,” said Maj. Gen. Dagvin Anderson, Special Operations Command Africa commander.

“The cooperation that led to the elimination of this high-level al-Qa’ida leader shows the value of our partnerships and the return on investment these mutually beneficial relationships bring to the U.S. and international security.”

Continued collective pressure on these terrorist networks prevents the further spread of violence, reflects the international model at work, and in this case, eliminating the personal plight of a violent and dangerous terrorist from creating further harm.

The US and France are major military partners in the African continent with close to over 15,000 forces across many countries. In total, Washington has around 7,000 soldiers in Africa, whose main station is in Djibouti.

The death comes barely two months after US Africa Command also killed two most wanted terrorists in Somalia, who had been working with another Al-Qaida associate, the Al-Shabaab group. Bashir Qorgab, who had $5 million bounties on his head, was killed in Saakow town in February.

Bashir, who had fallen out with Al-Shabaab leader Ahmed Omar Diriye, had been linked to the attack at US Naval Base in Kenya a month earlier. The Manda Airfield raid left three US citizens among them a serviceman dead, Pentagon said.

In April, another highly sought militant, Yusuf Jiis, was killed in an airstrike by the US troops at Bush Madina. Both US and French military prefer airstrikes to ground combats. They also give logistical support to their partners across the continent.

GAROWE ONLINE