AQIM, Ansar al-Din bosses flee Kidal

map by Evan Centanni (www.polgeonow.com)

Malian and French forces recaptured Kidal on Wednesday (January 30th), forcing the main Islamist chiefs to flee their last holdout in northern Mali, AFP reported.
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) katibat leader Abou Zeid and Ansar al-Din chief Iyad Ag Ghaly have reportedly retreated to the Adrar des Ifoghas mountain region bordering Algeria and Niger.

Meanwhile, at a donor conference in the Addis Ababa Tuesday, African leaders and international officials pledged more than 340m euros to support Mali.

Lack of cash and equipment has hampered the deployment of nearly 6,000 troops in the African-led force for Mali (AFISMA).

from MAGHAREBIA
30/01/2013

Related articles

• French forces take key Mali town (bbc.co.uk)
• French troops deployed in last Mali rebel strongholds - Reuters (reuters.com)

Posted in: Al-Qaeda, Al-Qaeda Organization in the Islamic Maghreb, Algeria, ansar al-din, AQIM, Kidal, Mali, Niger