Niger police caught a rebel leader last week. The man runs part of the Azawad Liberation Front, a group that wants to break northern Mali away from the rest of the country. Security teams found him carrying both Niger and Mali passports when they grabbed him near the Nigeria border.
The arrested commander, Inkinane Ag Attaher, trains fighting units for rebels. Niger officials call him a terrorist. Mali might ask for him soon. He left the Mali army back in 2012 and joined separatist fighters who pushed government forces out of northern areas that year.
Three military-run countries - Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali - made their Alliance of Sahel States as a defense team in 2023. These nations face similar problems with rebels and fighters across their lands. Many experts see Attaher as key for rebel connections around the world, especially with Ukraine.
After military leaders took charge, Mali kicked out French and European partners and turned to Russia instead. The Mali government claims Ukraine helps rebels fight against them through training and supplies. Attaher often showed support for Ukraine on social media platform X.
Mali and Niger cut all ties with Ukraine last August. This happened after Mali soldiers and Russian Wagner fighters lost a big battle against rebels near Algeria. A Ukrainian military intelligence person hinted that they gave information to rebels before that attack. Fighting picked up again in 2023 when the UN peacekeepers had to leave because military rulers wanted them gone. Since that time, rebels have lost several northern towns as Mali forces pushed ahead and finally took Kidal, an important city for both sides.
The arrested commander, Inkinane Ag Attaher, trains fighting units for rebels. Niger officials call him a terrorist. Mali might ask for him soon. He left the Mali army back in 2012 and joined separatist fighters who pushed government forces out of northern areas that year.
Three military-run countries - Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali - made their Alliance of Sahel States as a defense team in 2023. These nations face similar problems with rebels and fighters across their lands. Many experts see Attaher as key for rebel connections around the world, especially with Ukraine.
After military leaders took charge, Mali kicked out French and European partners and turned to Russia instead. The Mali government claims Ukraine helps rebels fight against them through training and supplies. Attaher often showed support for Ukraine on social media platform X.
Mali and Niger cut all ties with Ukraine last August. This happened after Mali soldiers and Russian Wagner fighters lost a big battle against rebels near Algeria. A Ukrainian military intelligence person hinted that they gave information to rebels before that attack. Fighting picked up again in 2023 when the UN peacekeepers had to leave because military rulers wanted them gone. Since that time, rebels have lost several northern towns as Mali forces pushed ahead and finally took Kidal, an important city for both sides.
