عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

ICC Issues Arrest Warrant Against Mali’s ‘Desert Fox’

Iyad Ag Ghaly in northern Mali in 2012 (AFP)
Iyad Ag Ghaly in northern Mali in 2012 (AFP)
TT
TT

ICC Issues Arrest Warrant Against Mali’s ‘Desert Fox’

Iyad Ag Ghaly in northern Mali in 2012 (AFP)
Iyad Ag Ghaly in northern Mali in 2012 (AFP)

The International Criminal Court (ICC) said it issued an arrest warrant for the leader of Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), Iyad Ag Ghaly, one of the Sahel’s top terrorist militant leaders and the most important leader of el-Qaeda in West Africa.
The arrest warrant against him was issued in 2017 under seal but made public only on Friday.
This means that the Court had first issued it when Ag Ghaly was named as JNIM's overall emir shortly following the organization’s formation in March 2017.
Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin is the largest alliance of terrorist movements in the Sahel region. It includes Ansar Eddine, the Sahara Emirate, an al-Qaeda affiliated group, the Macina Liberation Front and Al-Mourabitoun organization.
In a statement issued on Friday, the ICC said that the “Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court, at the request of the Prosecutor, made public an arrest warrant against Iyad Ag Ghaly.”
It added that the arrest warrant was initially issued under seal on 18 July 2017 and that Ghaly is not detained by the ICC.
The warrant was not made public when it was issued in 2017 because of the “potential risks to witnesses and victims.”
War Crimes
The Court said there are reasonable grounds to believe that Ag Ghaly would be the undisputed leader of Ansar Eddine, which had control of Timbuktu, Mali, between January 2012 and January 2013 when war crimes and crimes against humanity were allegedly committed in the Malian historic city.
The Court accuses Ag Ghaly of being responsible for the murder of soldiers placed hors de combat in Aguelhoc on 24 January 2012. It referred to the battle led by Ag Ghaly in January 2012 in the city of Aguelhok between Ansar Eddine and the Malian army, in which the latter suffered heavy casualties.
He is also accused of imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty; rape, sexual slavery and any other form of sexual violence.
The ICC noted that Ag Ghaly is suspected of having committed these crimes jointly with others and/or through others; ordering, soliciting or inducing their commission or aiding, abetting or otherwise assisting in the commission of these crimes; or in any other way contributing to the commission or these crimes; and/or as a military commander.
The Chamber ordered the Registrar of the Court to prepare a request for cooperation in the arrest and surrender of the suspect, and to address it to the competent authorities of any relevant State and any other relevant authority.
Mali’s Desert Fox
The ICC memo comes years after the disappearance of Ag Ghaly in the Sahel region of Africa.
Unofficial reports say the man is hiding in a rugged mountainous area on the border between Mali and Algeria, where his Tuareg ethnicity is deeply embedded.
The court's indictment focuses on the period when Iyad Ag Ghaly led the Ansar Eddine group, which he founded in 2011, and after he allied with el-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, and took control of large parts of northern Mali in 2012.
But Ag Ghaly’s plan collapsed after the French Special Forces had touched down in Malian territory to prevent the collapse of the state of Mali, and to hunt down the man.
The Forces dealt a heavy blow to his group in 2013 and forced it to retreat towards the Ifoghas' Mountains in the far northeast of Mali.
In the 1980s, Ag Ghaly’s journey landed him in Libya where he received military training and joined the ranks of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi’s Green Brigade which was composed mainly of Tuareg tribesmen.
Having excelled in training, he earned a place in the Libyan mission and was sent to fight against Tchad and also to South Lebanon to fight alongside Palestinians.
Ag Ghaly returned to northern Mali in the early 1990s to form a rebel militia which opposed the Malian central government based in Bamako.
In 2007, the man had a Salafist lifestyle. During this period, he established relations with militant extremist groups, including al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) and played a major mediating role to ultimately win the release of western hostages and earned huge sums of money.
Most Wanted Man
The International Criminal Court (ICC) published the arrest warrant on Friday against Iyad Ag Ghaly, however, the court does not have the capacity to apprehend suspects and relies on member states to carry out arrests.
For the past 10 years, the French had unsuccessfully tried to arrest the 76-year-old man in Mali.
Reports claim that Ag Ghaly was wounded in one of the French attempts to liquidate him.
Nicknamed “Desert Fox,” he is described as intelligent and highly experienced on desert trails.
Ag Ghaly was able to hide for years because of the support he enjoys from locals.
Since 2020, Ag Ghaly is fighting a war on two fronts: The man continues his attacks against the state and the Army in Mali where he expanded his circle of influence in the north and center. Also, he is fighting a bloody war against ISIS, the terrorist group that is responsible for the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people in Mali.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Iraq PM Vows to Prevent Attacks After French Soldier Killed

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani attends an event in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 9, 2024. (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani attends an event in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 9, 2024. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Iraq PM Vows to Prevent Attacks After French Soldier Killed

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani attends an event in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 9, 2024. (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani attends an event in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 9, 2024. (Reuters)

Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani vowed on Friday to prevent attacks after the killing of a French soldier in an attack in the autonomous Kurdistan region.

Sudani expressed his "solidarity" with France in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.

He said that "the necessary measures will be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents", and an investigation will be conducted into the attack.

The president of Iraq's Kurdistan region Nechirvan Barzani, in a call with Macron, also expressed his condolences and called for the Iraqi government to "set limits on outlaw groups".

Arab World

Syria, Lebanon Test Ties Amid Regional Escalation

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during the Arab Summit in Egypt, March 4, 2025 (AP)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during the Arab Summit in Egypt, March 4, 2025 (AP)
TT
TT

Syria, Lebanon Test Ties Amid Regional Escalation

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during the Arab Summit in Egypt, March 4, 2025 (AP)
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun meets with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa during the Arab Summit in Egypt, March 4, 2025 (AP)

Before a March 10 phone call between Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to discuss regional developments and their impact on the security and stability of both countries and the wider region, it appeared the two leaders had not been in direct contact since each assumed the presidency a little over a year ago.

In the days before speaking with Aoun, al-Sharaa contacted several Lebanese political figures. On March 6, he spoke with Prime Minister Nawaf Salam and former Progressive Socialist Party leader Walid Jumblatt. On March 8, he called Kataeb Party leader MP Sami Gemayel.

During those calls, al-Sharaa expressed “solidarity with the Lebanese people in these difficult circumstances Lebanon is going through.”

He said the reinforcement of the Syrian military presence along the Syrian-Lebanese border on March 3 was intended solely to strengthen border control and safeguard Syria’s internal security. He described the steps as similar to measures taken along the Syrian-Iraqi border.

The contacts came against the backdrop of war in the region and broader regional developments, and included discussions on the future of Syrian-Lebanese relations. Al-Sharaa stressed the importance of continued coordination between the two countries.

According to the Kataeb Party’s official website, the call between al-Sharaa and Gemayel took place in a positive atmosphere and included discussion of opening a new chapter in bilateral relations.

Al-Sharaa said ties between Syria and Lebanon should rest on “mutual respect between the two states,” alongside stronger economic cooperation and integration that serves the interests of both peoples.

However, the two days following the March 8 call triggered speculation that relations between the two countries were strained because of current and past issues.

Al-Sharaa moved to dispel that speculation with a direct call to Aoun. The following day, French President Emmanuel Macron said he had spoken with both leaders and welcomed the dialogue, saying “the coordination launched by the Lebanese and Syrian leaderships is important” and that France would continue to support it.

Overall, the contacts have raised cautious optimism about neighborly relations at a sensitive moment.

Asharq Al-Awsat asked Syrian analysts how they see relations between the two countries evolving in the near term amid ongoing regional developments.

Foundations of the relationship

Bassam Barabandi, a Syrian analyst and former diplomat based in Washington, said Damascus approaches relations with Lebanon on several foundations.

First is non-interference in Lebanon’s internal politics. Second is border security, particularly preventing Hezbollah from operating inside Syria or transferring weapons through Syrian territory, as well as halting drug smuggling through Syria, which requires direct cooperation with Lebanon.

Third is the issue of Syrians held in Lebanese prisons, which he said is under discussion.

Barabandi said contacts between the two sides, including the call between al-Sharaa and Aoun, produced understandings on several issues, notably mutual non-interference in internal affairs and handling files related to Syrian fugitives in Lebanon and Syrian refugees.

He noted that Lebanon’s political system requires engagement with multiple actors, since the president is only one part of a broader governing structure. Communicating Syrian assurances or positions, therefore, requires outreach to different political leaders.

In that context, al-Sharaa contacted Gemayel to thank him for efforts aimed at accelerating solutions for Syrians detained in Lebanon, and in recognition of his political weight among Christians.

The Syrian president also contacted Jumblatt, Lebanon’s top Druze leader.

Further contacts with other figures could follow if needed, Barabandi said.

He added that the Syrian government supports steps taken by the Lebanese government regarding Hezbollah, particularly efforts related to disarming the group.

Expanding dialogue

Jumaa Mohammed Laheeb, director of research and studies at the Syrian Future Movement, said the current dynamic between Damascus and Beirut reflects a dual reality: relatively advanced security and political coordination alongside political uncertainty.

That uncertainty is most evident in sensitive files, particularly those related to detainees, he said. In that context, al-Sharaa’s call with Salam can be understood.

Laheeb said the call and Syria’s expression of support for Lebanon amid the regional escalation focused on two main issues: border control and reassuring the Lebanese government that Syrian military deployments aim to strengthen control within Syrian territory rather than stoke tensions in Lebanon.

Such communication reflects effective operational channels between the two governments, particularly after understandings reached in recent years on smuggling and border crossings. But those channels alone cannot resolve politically and historically sensitive files such as detainees and the missing, he said.

Laheeb said the Lebanese presidency sits at the center of complex domestic balances involving Hezbollah’s influence, as well as Christian, Sunni and Druze segments.

Al-Sharaa’s initial reluctance to call Aoun directly — while opening communication with figures such as Jumblatt and Gemayel — reflects a Syrian effort to broaden the range of Lebanese actors it engages with.

Damascus appears to be seeking greater regional legitimacy by opening dialogue with forces opposed to Hezbollah’s dominance, he said. But key decisions on issues such as detainees, refugees and border security still pass through domestic circles in which Hezbollah retains considerable influence.

The detainee file, he said, remains a bargaining chip rather than a purely humanitarian priority, leading to delays and partial solutions rather than a comprehensive settlement.

Testing relations with Damascus

Syrian researcher Ahmad Abazid said Damascus does not want to become involved in the current war or intervene militarily against Hezbollah. However, he said the Syrian government has, from the outset, made support for the Lebanese state a cornerstone of its relationship with Lebanon, alongside what he described as genuine hostility toward Hezbollah.

For that reason, he said, it is natural for Damascus to support Aoun’s initiative to disarm the group.

At the same time, Abazid argued Hezbollah would be the weaker side in any confrontation with the new Syrian army. The history of relations between the group and Syrian opposition would likely push many fighters to confront Hezbollah if such a battle emerged, he said.

He also pointed to rising tensions. Hezbollah said Syrian territory had been used as the launch point for a second Israeli operation in the Lebanese town of Nabi Sheet in the Bekaa Valley. Shortly afterward, the Syrian army said Hezbollah had fired artillery shells at the Sarghaya region in western Syria.

Abazid said the escalation could reflect two possible dynamics. One is an Iranian attempt to spread instability across the region during the current war to increase pressure on all sides, particularly Arab states.

The other is that Hezbollah feels threatened by the Syrian side, especially as Lebanese actors have refrained from launching military initiatives against the group and after remarks by US envoy Tom Barrack suggesting possible Syrian intervention in Lebanon.

Arab World

Iraq PM Vows to Prevent Attacks After French Soldier Killed

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani attends an event in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 9, 2024. (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani attends an event in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 9, 2024. (Reuters)
TT
TT

Iraq PM Vows to Prevent Attacks After French Soldier Killed

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani attends an event in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 9, 2024. (Reuters)
Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani attends an event in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 9, 2024. (Reuters)

Iraq's Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani vowed on Friday to prevent attacks after the killing of a French soldier in an attack in the autonomous Kurdistan region.

Sudani expressed his "solidarity" with France in a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron.

He said that "the necessary measures will be taken to prevent the recurrence of such incidents", and an investigation will be conducted into the attack.

The president of Iraq's Kurdistan region Nechirvan Barzani, in a call with Macron, also expressed his condolences and called for the Iraqi government to "set limits on outlaw groups".