France forces kill Al Qaeda leader in Mali

French forces have killed a military leader of Al Qaeda’s North Africa wing, Bah Ag Moussa, during an operation in north eastern Mali.

Armed forces minister Florence Parly made the announcement on Friday.

The former Malian army colonel, also known as Bamoussa Diarra, was a right-hand man of Iyad Ag Ghali, the leader of Mali’s most prominent jihadi group, Jama’at Nusrat Al-Islam Wal-Muslimin (JNIM).

Reports say the group has repeatedly attacked soldiers and civilians in Mali and neighbouring Burkina Faso.