Abou Houzeifa, also known by the nom de guerre “Higgo,” has been confirmed killed by Malian security forces in the Gao region, according to the Mali army and reports by Afrique Sur 7. Higgo, a prominent figure within the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (EIGS), had orchestrated multiple attacks in the Sahel region. His most notorious act was leading the deadly ambush on American and Nigerian soldiers in Tongo Tongo, Niger, on October 4, 2017. This attack resulted in the death of four soldiers from each nation, drawing international scrutiny and raising questions about security strategies in West Africa.
Higgo had become a focal point for Western security agencies, evident from the substantial reward of approximately 5.6 million USD offered by the United States for information leading to his capture. His activities had cemented his reputation as a high-threat individual across the Mali-Niger-Burkina Faso tri-border area, a critical zone for Islamist militant operations.
🇲🇱 #Mali: Senior ISIS leader Abu Huzeifa has been killed in the Menaka town of Indelimane during an operation carried out by the militaries of Mali, #Niger, and #BurkinaFaso. Abu Huzeifa had a $5m US bounty on his head, and was reportedly responsible for the planning of the 2017… pic.twitter.com/rbmAWYDXmG
— Popular Front (@PopularFront_) May 1, 2024
The operation leading to Higgo’s death reportedly involved meticulous intelligence gathering and coordination among various security forces. It marks a step towards destabilizing the operational capacity of EIGS in the region. Despite this achievement, experts, including Rida Lyammouri from the Policy Center for the New South, caution that the threat level remains high as other militant leaders are likely to emerge.
This incident occurs amid ongoing political and military turbulence in Mali, which has seen multiple coups and a pivot in its international military alliances, including a shift from French support to collaborations with Russian-backed Wagner group and neighboring countries Niger and Burkina Faso. The broader Sahel region continues to grapple with escalating violence and political instability, challenging the effectiveness and reach of counterterrorism efforts.
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