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Citizens in Niger head to the polls to elect their President in their first democratic power transfer since the country's independence from France. The election comes amidst a growing Islamist insurgency as Mohamed Bazoum is the favourite to succeed incumbent Mahamadou Issoufou, who is stepping down after serving two five-year terms.
2020-12-27

The French Minister of the Armed Forces Florence Parly says that AQIM emir Abdelmalek Droukdel, along with members of his inner circle, had been killed in northern Mali on 3 June 2020. She also says that French forces had also captured a senior AQIM commander in an operation in May.
2020-06-5

France claims that it is "probable" that al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb chief Abdelhamid Abou Zeid was killed in Mali in late February.
2013-03-4

Seven French tourists are kidnapped by gunmen near Waza National Park in northern Cameroon, near the border with Nigeria. President of France François Hollande states that the Islamist group Boko Haram may be responsible.
2013-02-19

French and Malian troops retake Diabaly and Douentza as Islamist forces retreat.
2013-01-21

The Military of Mali recaptures the town of Konna three days after French jets drove out Islamist militants.
2013-01-18

Suspected Islamic militants take over a BP facility in In Aménas, Algeria, killing at least 2 workers and taking up to 40 others hostage, including 13 Norwegians, a number of Americans, as well as nationals from Ireland, Japan, France and the United Kingdom. A previously unknown group allied to al-Qaeda's regional branch says the attack is in revenge for Algeria's support of the French operation against Islamic rebels in Mali.
2013-01-16

For the first time in nearly eighteen months, a sign of life appears of four French nationals kidnapped by Al-Qa'eda in Arlit, Niger. A videotape shows them healthy; they ask France to negotiate their release.
2012-09-8

France arrests ten suspected militant Islamists following 13 people arrested last week.
2012-04-4

French authorities seek to make contact with Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb over the kidnapping of five French nationals and two others in Niger, now believed to have been taken to northern Mali.
2010-09-23