According to a report by Reuters on 16 September 2021, a French military drone
killed the leader of ISGS, Adnan Abu Walid al-Sahrawi, as he riding a motorbike in mid-August.
World Watch Research analyst Yonas Dembele comments: "Sahrawi had previously been a leader within the al-Qaeda-linked militant group,
al-Mourabitoun (based in Mali). ISGS was formed in 2015 after Sahrawi pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group and defected from
al-Mourabitoun with other pro-Islamic State members. Ever since, ISGS has been responsible for deadly attacks targeting civilians and soldiers in the region, including in the tri-border region between Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. They have also exploited all possible avenues to incite violence throughout the Sahel region and recruit new members."
Yonas Dembele continues: "Since the start of France"s intervention in Mali in 2013, French armed forces have killed several high-ranking members of ISGS as part of a strategy to target jihadist leaders. It is hoped that such operations will eventually bring relief for the civilian population, especially for Christians who have suffered many attacks from militant groups over the years. This latest killing will most likely disrupt ISGS operations in the short-term. However, some country experts are doubtful whether it will lead to any significant reduction in jihadist activity in the region in the long-term."
