Mali’s military says it has neutralized a senior jihadist commander in a drone strike in the central part of the country, days after authorities introduced a major reward scheme targeting leaders of armed and terrorist groups.
According to the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa), the operation carried out on June 3 in Mougnan, west of Djenné, killed a man identified by the aliases Oumar Kéréna, Farouk and Housseini Mawdo.
The army said he was a former member of the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) who later rose through the ranks of jihadist networks linked to the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), overseeing operations in parts of Mali and neighboring Burkina Faso.
Military authorities described him as a key figure in coordinating and structuring JNIM-affiliated activities, making him a high-value target.
The announcement comes shortly after the Malian government unveiled financial rewards of up to two billion CFA francs for information leading to the arrest or location of wanted militant leaders, including JNIM leader Iyad Ag Ghali.
The measures form part of a broader security strategy adopted following recent attacks on military positions, with Bamako also imposing sanctions on individuals and entities accused of supporting armed groups.
