Bamako: The Malian army announced Monday that it had killed Souleymane Ag Bakawa, a leader of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, also known as Soldat, during an operation in the Tinfadimata area in northern Mali.

According to Nam News Network, this individual led a group known for spreading terror in the town of Menaka and surrounding areas. He was directly involved in several kidnappings of civilians and targeted killings of Malian Armed Forces personnel and civilians, the Malian army said in a statement.

Since 2012, Mali has been dealing with separatist uprisings, jihadist incursions, and intercommunal violence, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands.