Jihad Leader Killed in Northern Mali

MUJWA is just one of the Jihadist groups in West Africa

       The man purportedly behind numerous high profile attacks and kidnappings has been killed by French troops.  The man, Ahmed el Tilemsi, was the military head and co-founded the jihadist group called the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (MUJWA).  He ran one of the several groups active in the region.  In December 2012, the U.S. Government designated el Tilemsi as a terrorist and offered up to $5 million for information leading to him.  He was killed on Wednesday night in a French military operation, which was coordinated with the Malian forces.  Approximately 10 other suspected terrorists were "neutralized" in the same operation.  The former colony of France says they were either killed or taken captive.  The group has previously abductee aid workers, attacked police bases and kidnapped diplomats.  The attacks all took place in Algeria and since 2012 the group has been relatively quiet.  

       This man had been a known suspect for a number of years and I think that the french government was correct in their actions and reasonings.  Upon further investigation, el Tilemsi was a former member of al Qaeda and in September 2011, broke off into the Islamic Maghreb.  This man has been a known terrorist for many years past.  However, over the past two years, el Tilemsi and his group have been rather quiet in the realm of jihadists.  Many argue that the price of death is wrongful to impose on a person because of their actions.  They go on to say that life was not given to you by a government therefore, the government should not be able to take that away from you.  There are definitely pros and cons to all beliefs and thoughts towards this matter.  However, European governments do not seem to be open to other thoughts on this matter.  I think we can all agree though that it is a good thing that people like el Tilemsi are put to rest.

William Deo

Adapted from:

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/11/world/africa/jihadist-leader-killed-mali/index.html?hpt=wo_c2