Mali says Islamic State militant linked to 9/11 killed in northeastern operation
In a statement, the military said the operation took place in the northeastern region of the country, where troops engaged the militant and his bodyguard during a targeted mission based on intelligence reports. The two were killed in a brief clash while reportedly pressuring local populations as part of a forced recruitment campaign.
The militant was identified as Imad Eddin Barakat, also known as Abou Dahdah, a Spanish national born in Syria. He had previously been convicted by a Spanish court for his association with the 9/11 plot and his links to al Qaeda. Barakat was sentenced to 27 years in prison, though the term was later reduced to 12 years
Mali says Islamic State militant linked to 9/11 killed in northeastern operation
According to Malian and regional security sources, Barakat later joined ISGS, a group that has claimed responsibility for a series of deadly attacks across Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. In his role, he acted as both an ideologue and a technical expert in suicide bombings and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), and was reportedly connected to the Banibango attack in Niger earlier this year.
Security officials said Barakat's presence in Mali was part of a broader effort by ISGS to radicalize and mobilize communities in remote areas of the Sahel in order to expand its operational base.
'This figure was not just symbolic; he was central to the group's strategy of indoctrination and recruitment,' a spokesperson for a local pro-government militia told Reuters.
ISGS, which emerged as an offshoot of the Islamic State's global network, remains active across parts of Mali where government forces have limited reach. The Malian army, which has been engaged in a years-long fight against Islamist insurgents, has stepped up operations in the country's volatile northern and central regions.
The killing of Barakat marks a high-profile success for the Malian military, though security analysts warn that ISGS remains resilient, with deep local networks and access to arms and funding across porous borders
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Sudan Nashra: Burhan turns down meeting with Kenyan president, holds indirect Egypt-mediated talks with Haftar RSF rejects Fasher humanitarian truce Kamel Idris appoints 3 new ministers
Over the past week, Transitional Sovereignty Council (TSC) Chair and Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) Commander-in-Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan made two international visits — first to Seville, Spain, then to Alamein, Egypt. Burhan arrived in Seville on Sunday to attend the fourth International Conference on Financing for Development. On the sidelines, he turned down a proposal from external parties to meet with Kenyan President William Ruto, a source in the TSC told Mada Masr. Burhan made it clear that there are currently no discussions to be had with Ruto, after the military discovered Kenyan-made ammunition in a warehouse it had seized from the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in western Khartoum in June. In Alamein, Burhan held indirect talks with Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar, mediated by Egypt, in a bid to resolve disputes over the border triangle, which the RSF had seized in June with backing from LNA-affiliated forces. Although the talks yielded no concrete outcomes, negotiations between Sudan and Libya are expected to continue under high-level Egyptian mediation, a diplomatic source told Mada Masr. Domestically, Prime Minister Kamel Idris took another step toward ending the impasse in cabinet formation by appointing three new ministers on Thursday, with more appointments expected in the coming days. Meanwhile, the RSF-led Tasees coalition announced the formation of its leadership body in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur. RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan 'Hemedti' Dagalo was named head of the coalition, with Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North leader Abdel Aziz al-Hilu appointed as his deputy. The move is seen as a precursor to the formation of the parallel government the RSF first unveiled in its Nairobi conference in February. *** Burhan declines meeting with Kenyan president on sidelines of Conference on Financing for Development in Spain TSC Chair and SAF Commander-in-Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan declined a proposal for a bilateral summit with Kenyan President William Ruto on the sidelines of the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development in Spain, a source in the TSC told Mada Masr. The proposal, according to the source, was put forward by external parties they did not disclose. Burhan landed in the Spanish city of Seville on Sunday to take part in the conference, where he was received by King Felipe VI of Spain. The event, jointly convened by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, brought together several high-level officials. Burhan was accompanied by Foreign Ministry Acting Undersecretary Hussein al-Amin al-Fadil. According to the TSC source, Burhan made clear to the parties proposing the bilateral summit that there are currently no Sudan-related discussions to be had with Ruto, adding that Kenya must begin to respect the principles of good neighborliness and prioritize the interests of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development's member states during this critical phase. On June 26, Sudan's Foreign Ministry issued a strongly-worded statement condemning what it described as Kenya's continued 'dangerous and irresponsible' interference in Sudanese affairs. The statement warned that such actions pose a serious threat to regional security and stability, as well as to the territorial integrity and institutions of African states. The Sudanese military had found Kenyan-made ammunition in a seized RSF warehouse in the Salha area of western Khartoum last month, the ministry further stated, reiterating its call for Kenya to cease all forms of support for the RSF and reaffirm its commitment to the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries, in adherence to the UN Charter, the African Union Constitutive Act and the guiding principles of relevant regional bodies. In his address to the conference in Seville, Burhan highlighted the appointment of a civilian prime minister to lead the transitional period, which he described as a significant step toward civilian and democratic stability and a clear expression of national will to rebuild state institutions on inclusive civilian foundations. Burhan said the country has been facing exceptional circumstances since the outbreak of the war in April 2023, but emphasized that the Sudanese people remain strongly committed to engaging constructively with the international community to rebuild their country. *** Haftar denies supporting the RSF during Egypt-mediated talks with Burhan In a bid to resolve an ongoing border dispute that has brought the war in Sudan close to Egypt's borders, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi held separate talks with Libyan National Army head Khalifa Haftar and Burhan on Tuesday in Alamein, according to a senior Sudanese Foreign Ministry source. In June, the Sudanese Armed Forces accused forces loyal to the LNA of supporting the RSF in taking control of the border triangle between Libya, Sudan and Egypt, in order to cement a weapons supply line into Darfur after the paramilitary's previous main supply route through Chad had been cut off. After seizing control of the border triangle — a strategic smuggling and trade nexus and an area of national security concern for all three countries — the RSF pushed further along the desert road into Libya, reaching as far as Karb al-Toum, about 450 km from the Northern State's capital, Dongola. Once closer allies, Egypt, which has backed the SAF throughout the war, and the LNA have seen their ties strain. A Libyan source close to the eastern government described Egypt's mediation effort as an attempt to reset its relationship with the leadership of eastern Libya, especially following what he called a 'temporary lull' in coordination caused by diverging positions on the war in Sudan. But the meeting brought little in the way of concrete pledges, as Haftar tried to sidestep his involvement with the RSF, according to the Sudanese Foreign Ministry and the Libyan source. During the meeting with Sisi, Haftar insisted that he had no involvement in RSF activities and reaffirmed Libya's commitment to Sudan's territorial integrity, the Sudanese government source said. He attributed the incursion of the Haftar-aligned Subul al-Salam battalion into the border triangle — seized by the RSF in June — to a pre-planned ambush targeting smugglers. Haftar also emphasized, according to the source, that he would not interfere in Sudanese affairs in any way. As for Burhan, Tuesday's trip to Egypt was made on short notice. Burhan had initially postponed a scheduled visit to Egypt in late May, a senior source in the TSC told Mada Masr. The sudden trip to Alamein came in response to an invitation from Sisi. During his meeting with Egyptian officials, Burhan detailed Sudan's monitoring of military movements in the region, accusing the RSF of exploiting cross-border dynamics on the Libyan front, a Sudanese diplomatic source told Mada Masr. He stressed the military's readiness to respond decisively to threats in the border area. Despite not producing any outcomes, indirect negotiations between Sudan and Libya are expected to continue under high-level Egyptian mediation, the diplomatic source added. Outside the border issue, Burhan and Sisi also discussed avenues for strengthening bilateral cooperation, focusing on migration, voluntary return and postwar reconstruction during their meeting on Tuesday, according to a source at the Sudanese Embassy in Cairo. Discussions included the possibility of a joint conference to explore Egypt's role in rebuilding Sudan's infrastructure, with Egyptian companies expected to take part in restoring logistical facilities in Khartoum. The talks also emphasized the need for continued coordination and joint action to safeguard water security and uphold international law in a way that serves the shared interests of all Nile Basin countries. *** Kamel Idris appoints 3 new ministers, more expected over coming days After weeks of delay, Prime Minister Kamel Idris moved again to break the deadlock in forming his cabinet by appointing three new ministers on Thursday, with more appointments expected in the coming days. The latest additions include two Khartoum University professors: Esmat Gurashy Abdallah Mohamed as agriculture and irrigation minister, and Ahmed Mudawy Moussa Mohamed as higher education and scientific research minister. Physician Moez Omar Bakhit al-Awad was appointed health minister. Idris said the selections came after a careful review of each candidate's qualifications and experience. These appointments bring the total number of ministers named so far to five, following Idris's selection of interior and defense ministers last week. A significant number of cabinet positions are expected to be announced over the coming days, though it remains unclear whether the portfolios allocated to the armed movements signatories to the Juba Peace Agreement will be included in the upcoming round. Since taking office in late May, Idris has faced obstacles in his efforts to form a nonpartisan, technocratic government — a key promise of his leadership. During consultations, the armed movements insisted on retaining the ministerial quotas granted to them under the deal. However, a source in the cabinet told Mada Masr that Idris has nearly finalized his cabinet lineup, with consensus reached on more than 15 ministerial posts — excluding those earmarked for the armed movements. *** Tasees coalition appoints Hemedti leader, Abdel Aziz al-Hilu as deputy The RSF-led Tasees coalition announced on Tuesday the formation of a 31-member leadership body from Nyala, the capital of South Darfur State. RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan 'Hemedti' Dagalo was named head of the coalition, with Abdel Aziz al-Hilu, leader of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement-North, appointed as his deputy. The announcement is seen as a precursor to the formation of the parallel government the RSF first unveiled in its Nairobi conference in February. The coalition, comprising armed and political groups aligned with the RSF, emerged from that gathering following the signing of a founding charter and transitional constitutional framework. Speaking at the coalition's inaugural press conference in Nyala, spokesperson Alaa Eddin Nagd described the formation of the leadership body as the result of 'extensive consultations marked by transparency and seriousness,' adding that full consensus had been reached on its composition. But two sources in the coalition told Mada Masr that the delays in announcing the government stemmed from internal disputes over the division of positions and representation across the coalition's various factions. While one senior Tasees official insisted that the new leadership structure was designed to build trust and resolve disputes, one of the sources in the coalition said that the move was a reaction to mounting tensions — not only among coalition members, but also between rival currents within the RSF itself. A third source in Tasees confirmed that rifts have widened inside the RSF, particularly after several military and political figures in Darfur were excluded from key roles. According to the source, those sidelined are considered loyal to RSF Deputy Commander Abdel Rahim Dagalo — Hemedti's brother — who has been accused by a former adviser to Hemedti of aligning with figures affiliated with the former regime. *** RSF rejects UN-proposed humanitarian ceasefire, escalates attacks on Fasher The RSF rejected a one-week humanitarian ceasefire in the North Darfuri capital of Fasher, proposed last week by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in a phone call with Burhan. While Burhan agreed to the proposal, the RSF dismissed it outright and has since escalated its military offensive on the city. Omran Abdallah, an advisor to Hemedti, told Mada Masr that the proposed truce was intended not to protect civilians but to prolong the war and enable the military's besieged Sixth Infantry Division to regroup and resupply. 'If the concern is civilian suffering, then the entire Sudanese population is suffering because of the war,' he said. Abdallah further claimed that there are no civilians left in Fasher, asserting that safe exit routes were opened following the formation of the RSF-led Tasees coalition. According to him, the RSF facilitated the evacuation of residents by providing transportation, food and water. He said dozens of convoys had left the city recently, and that all areas under RSF control were now free of civilians, with the group solely focused on encircling the Sixth Division. On the ground, RSF attacks on Fasher have escalated. A field source told Mada Masr that artillery shelling on Sunday struck the city's livestock market, resulting in civilian deaths and injuries. On Tuesday, the RSF launched an assault on military defenses and allied forces in the Higra and Thawra neighborhoods south and southeast of the city, another field source said. The attack was repelled after more than three hours of fighting, during which the RSF suffered casualties and was forced to retreat to its original positions, resorting instead to continued shelling of Fasher, according to the source. The following day, a strategic military drone struck a fuel station at the eastern Fasher bus terminal, destroying four RSF combat vehicles, according to the same source. RSF positions in the Garny area, northwest of the city, were also struck by drone attacks. The RSF has maintained a siege on Fasher since early May, launching repeated attacks that have displaced large numbers of civilians and further deteriorated the city's already dire living and health conditions. On Monday, the Sudan Doctors Network reported that 239 children had died in Fasher from January until the end of June due to malnutrition and the critical shortage of food and medicine. The network called upon regional and international organizations to pressure the RSF into accepting and implementing the UN-proposed truce. *** Heavy fighting in Babanusa, West Kordofan The RSF launched a renewed assault on Tuesday on the command of the military's 22nd Infantry Division in Babanusa, West Kordofan, a military source told Mada Masr. Despite receiving reinforcements and additional combat vehicles from the town of Muglad, the RSF attack was repelled, resulting in losses among its fighters and damage to its equipment, according to the source. The military stated that dozens of RSF fighters were killed in Tuesday's battle and that several RSF vehicles and military equipment were either destroyed or seized. This is the latest in a series of RSF offensives on Babanusa and its military camps, which began in mid-June. The 22nd Division has so far succeeded in holding its ground. On Thursday, the RSF stormed the Rawyan area near Khawi, the same military source said. The area was under military control and holds strategic importance for any advance toward the RSF-held cities of Khawi and Nuhud. *** Military nears control of Saderat Road, kills RSF commanders in drone strikes on North Kordofan The military is drawing closer to retaking the strategic Saderat Road in North Kordofan as it escalates operations against RSF positions. On Wednesday, military drones targeted an RSF leadership meeting in the Um Sayala area, a military source told Mada Masr. The strike killed five commanders, including Ahmed Abdel Aal and another commander the source said is linked to Libyan mercenaries fighting alongside the RSF. Al-Lazem Ibrahim al-Lazem, a journalist and former local official, told Mada Masr that the military's approach on the Bara front now relies on precise drone strikes on RSF leadership inside the city, while artillery fire from military positions in Obeid has begun targeting RSF-held areas such as Dankog. Among those recently killed, according to Lazem, are senior RSF commander Ali Mahdi, Bara sector deputy commander Adham Ibrahim Rabeh and special forces commander Abdel Rahim al-Daggaga. According to a former military officer, the coming days could see decisive battles in Bara and northern North Kordofan. The officer said the military has employed a strategy of attrition alongside the buildup of significant ground forces preparing to storm RSF-held areas. Recent airstrikes targeting RSF leadership have fractured the group's internal cohesion, they added, predicting that phased ground operations will be launched in tandem with continued aerial bombardment toward Bara. As the military steps up its operations, a resident of Bara told Mada Masr that on Monday, the RSF attacked the village of Khorsi, east of Bara, expelling students and religious scholars from one of Sudan's oldest Islamic institutes and forcibly displacing the area's residents. Infighting later broke out among RSF fighters over looted property and occupation of homes and buildings — including parts of the historic Khorsi institute — resulting in deaths and injuries within the RSF's ranks, the source said. The Khorsi school, founded over 277 years ago, had never ceased operations, receiving scholars and students from across Sudan and beyond. Most of its religious leaders had already fled the area, the source said, but the RSF forcibly evicted the last two remaining sheikhs and a group of students during the attack this week. *** Chad agrees to host delayed high school exams for Sudanese students Chad has agreed to host the delayed 2024 session of Sudan's secondary school certificate exams for refugee students, Sudanese authorities announced on Tuesday. The exams, which began on June 29, had been suspended in large parts of Darfur and among refugee communities in Chad. In December 2024, Chadian authorities refused to allow roughly 6,000 Sudanese students — many of whom had fled violence in West Darfur and surrounding areas — to take the exams on its territory. Chadian Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul informed Sudan's chargé d'affaires in N'Djamena that Chad had reversed its position and agreed to facilitate the process. He called for coordination with Chad's Higher Education Ministry and relevant UN agencies to ensure the exams are administered within the proper timeframe. Darfur Regional Governor Minni Arko Minnawi confirmed on June 24 that the Chadian government would now support the delivery of exams for Sudanese students living in refugee camps and those attending refugee schools inside Chad. Chad currently hosts 1.3 million Sudanese refugees — most of whom are survivors of atrocities committed by the RSF against the Masalit ethnic group in West Darfur. The country also shelters thousands who had fled earlier waves of violence in Darfur since the outbreak of conflict in 2003. Tensions between Sudan and Chad have escalated since the first year of the war, as Khartoum repeatedly accused N'Djamena of allowing United Arab Emirates-sponsored military equipment, weapons and mercenaries to be funneled through the Um Jaras Airport and the Chad-Libya border in support of the RSF. Meanwhile, West Darfur's capital, Geneina, is struggling under the strain of a dramatically expanded population following the arrival of tens of thousands of displaced families in recent months. The office of Tijani Karshoum, head of West Darfur's civil administration, told Mada Masr that the state has received over 48,000 displaced families, including around 21,000 who have settled in Geneina, after fleeing Khartoum and Gezira states. From January until May, as the military moved to retake control of Gezira and Khartoum, tens of thousands of civilians fled to Darfur states — including West Darfur — fearing they would be targeted by the military due to their social ties to the RSF or accusations of collaboration with the group.
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Malaysia Dismantles ISIS-Linked Terror Network
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