The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) have arrested Abraham Boubacar, alias “Oubel,” a top commander of the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS), along with 10 of his fighters during a military operation in Gao over the weekend.
Oubel, leader of the group’s Terrorist Action Group (GAT) in the Tessit sector, has been a key figure in coordinating attacks in this volatile border region between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.
His arrest, announced Sunday by the General Staff, marks a major breakthrough in Mali’s fight against terrorism, following the killing of another ISIS leader, “Abou Dahdah,” near Ménaka just a day earlier.
The Tessit area under Oubel’s command is known as a critical corridor for cross-border jihadist activity and was the site of a deadly attack on June 5 that killed about 40 Malian soldiers.
Authorities say the capture disrupts a major operational network and provides a rare chance to extract intelligence on ISIS operations in the region.
