During persistent tensions and deep security and political difficulties in Mali, the army apprehended 12 accused terrorists in the northeast, although Tuareg ex-rebels claimed they were troops incorporated into the Malian army.Â
Mali’s army claims to have arrested 12 terrorists in the northeast, where militants associated with the Islamic State have expanded their control. However, Tuareg ex-rebels say that the fighters were actually soldiers who had been integrated into the reconstituted Malian army. The rebels signed a peace agreement with the government in 2015, but tensions between the groups and the ruling junta led to its suspension. The soldiers in question were on leave and carried documents to verify it, according to Ramadane, the spokesman for the former rebels. Meanwhile, the Islamic State in the Great Sahara has taken over several towns in the region, including Tidermene, fueling a deep security and political crisis in Mali.Â
Source: https://www.thedefensepost.com/2023/04/24/mali-army-operations-north-center/Â
