Ba Ag Moussa (c. 1970s – 10 November 2020) was a Malian militant and jihadist.[1]
Ba Ag Moussa | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1970s Tin-Essako, Mali |
| Died | 10 November 2020 (age 49-50) Essouk, Mali |
| Allegiance |  Mali Democratic Alliance for Change  National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad  Ansar Dine  Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin |
| Rank | Colonel (Mali) Emir (Ansar Dine) |
| Battles / wars | Tuareg rebellion (1990–1995) Tuareg rebellion (2006) Mali War |
Biography
editMoussa was born in Tin-Essako in the 1970s, in the Kidal Region. He was the son of a Bambara and a Tuareg. After having benefitted from military training in Libya, he aided the Malian Armed Forces in the Tuareg rebellion of the 1990s.[2] He took up arms again during the Tuareg rebellion of 2006, rejoining the Malian Army following the 2006 Algiers Accords. He earned the rank of colonel and helped to combat insecurity in the Kidal Region.
In 2012, Moussa left the Malian Armed Forces to join the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad.[3] He spent a brief time with the Movement before joining Ansar Dine with support from his friend, Iyad Ag Ghaly. That year, he participated in the Battle of Menaka, the Battle of Aguelhok, and the Battle of Kidal.[4] In 2017, Moussa joined Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, taking the nickname "Abu Sharia".
After intervention by the French Armed Forces, Moussa stayed active in Nara and Kidal.[5] He allegedly carried out attacks in Nara, Diabaly, and Niono.[6]
On 17 March 2019, according to the Malian Army, Moussa led the attack on Dioura.[7] However, these statements were denied by Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin.[8] In 2020, the French Armed Forces declared Moussa was the leader of Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin. Journalist Wassim Nasr wrote that he was not the leader, but remained an important instructor within the group.[9] In June 2020, he was suspected of directing the ambush of Bouka Weré.[10]
Death
editOn November 10, French intelligence services detected the presence of a pick-up in the Tadamakat area, in the Ménaka region of Mali. The French Army had been looking for several days for Ba ag Moussa, an important figure in JNIM.[11] Ba Ag Moussa was determined to be in the pickup accompanied by 4 other armed jihadists. At the end of the day, around 6:00 p.m., a large-scale Operation is launched by the French special forces of Operation Sabre.[12] Four helicopters, one drone, and fifteen men were engaged in the operation, which took place 7 km east of Tadamakat.[13][14] After warning shots were fired on them, the jihadists exited the vehicle and were shot and killed immediately. Their bodies were buried on site.[15]
On 13 November 2020, Florence Parly, Minister of the French Armed Forces, announced that Moussa had been killed three days prior in the Ménaka Region as part of Operation Barkhane.[16][17]
References
edit- ^ "La France annonce la mort d'un haut responsable djihadiste lié à Al-Qaida au Mali". Le Monde (in French). 13 November 2020.
- ^ "Attaque terroriste : ce lourd tribut que paie l'armée malienne". Le Point (in French). 19 March 2019.
- ^ "Nord-Mali : qui sont les rebelles du MNLA ?". Jeune Afrique (in French). 26 January 2012.
- ^ "Guerre au Mali : retour sur le drame d'Aguelhok". Jeune Afrique (in French). 21 October 2013.
- ^ "Attaque du camp militaire de Dioura : Le présumé cerveau n'est pas un inconnu". Kibaru (in French). 18 March 2019.
- ^ "Mali: un déserteur de l'armée, proche de Ag Ghali, derrière l'attaque de Dioura". RFI (in French). 18 March 2019.
- ^ "Mali: une attaque djihadiste contre l'armée fait 21 morts". La Presse (in French). 17 March 2019.
- ^ "Mali: le groupe jihadiste GSIM revendique l'attaque contre l'armée". RFI (in French). 23 March 2019.
- ^ ""Ba ag Moussa avait entre ses mains la formation de plusieurs cadres"". RFI (in French). 13 November 2020.
- ^ "Attaque près de Diabaly: l'armée malienne livre un premier bilan". RFI (in French). 15 June 2020.
- ^ "Mali: un des chefs des jihadistes touaregs traqué et neutralisé par l'opération Barkhane". LA VDN. November 13, 2020.
- ^ "La France annonce la mort d'un haut responsable djihadiste lié à Al-Qaida au Mali". Le Monde.fr. November 13, 2020 – via Le Monde.
- ^ "Une nouvelle action de Sabre : une HVT ciblée (actualisé)". Le Mamouth (in French). 11 November 2020.
- ^ "Mali: un des chefs des jihadistes touaregs traqué et neutralisé par l'opération Barkhane". La Voix du Nord (in French). 13 November 2020.
- ^ "French Forces Kill Jihadist Commander Ba Ag Moussa in Mali". The Defense Post. 13 November 2020.
- ^ "L'armée française a tué un haut responsable jihadiste au Mali, annonce la ministre des Armées, Florence Parly". Franceinfo Afrique (in French). 13 November 2020.
- ^ @florence_parly (November 13, 2020). "Les forces armées françaises ont neutralisé un haut cadre d'Al-Qaïda, ce 10 novembre au Mali. Je félicite nos militaires pour ce succès qui prive Iyad Ag Ghali d'un de ses principaux adjoints. Leur engagement, leur courage et leur abnégation nous rendent forts et fiers" (Tweet) – via Twitter.