The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) have captured Abraham Boubacar, also known as “Oubel,” a senior commander of the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS), in a significant counterterrorism operation in the Gao region over the weekend. Ten other jihadist fighters were also detained during the operation, which was confirmed Sunday by the Malian General Staff. Oubel, who heads the group’s Groupe d’Action Terroriste (GAT) in the volatile Tessit sector, has been instrumental in coordinating cross-border attacks targeting civilians and military outposts across Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. His arrest comes less than 24 hours after the Malian military eliminated another high-ranking ISIS figure, Abou Dahdah, near Ménaka.
The operation is being hailed as a major victory in Mali’s ongoing battle against extremist insurgents in the tri-border region, a hotspot for jihadist violence. The Tessit zone, long viewed as a key corridor for ISIS logistics and operations, was the scene of a brutal ambush on June 5 that left at least 40 Malian soldiers dead. Military officials say Oubel’s arrest could yield vital intelligence, offering insights into the Islamic State’s command structure, funding sources, and planned attacks in the central Sahel.
The twin success—one arrest and one targeted killing—reflects a new surge in counterterrorism efforts by Malian forces, who have increasingly relied on tactical ground offensives and intelligence-led raids following the country’s break with French forces and the drawdown of UN peacekeepers.
