Jihadists affiliated to Islamic State group have taken Tidermene in Mali, further isolating the regional capital Menaka..
Tidermene’s fall follows months of fighting by Islamic State in the Greater Sahara (ISGS) to seize the northeastern village of a few thousand inhabitants some 75 kilometres (47 miles) north of Menaka.
All the region’s main administrative subdivisions are now under the group’s control.
The village was captured Monday night (Apr.10).
He and others spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals.
Another elected official said the jihadists had instructed the village’s residents to continue with business as usual, but to be prepared to begin paying the “zakat”, an Islamic tax.
Intense battles
A major ISGS offensive has since early 2022 been underway in the region of Menaka and that of Gao, further west..