Ismaguil Ag Arahmat, a prominent leader of the Movement for the Salvation of Azawad (MSA), was assassinated in the northern city of Gao on Monday evening.
The MSA, allied with Malian authorities, blamed “terrorists” for the attack.
Ag Arahmat was a regional military coordinator for the MSA and played a key role in the killing of Abou Houzeifa, a senior member of the Islamic State in the Sahel (EIS), in April.
A photo circulated on social media showed Ag Arahmat armed and next to Houzeifa’s body after the operation in Menaka.
The MSA statement described the killing as a “cowardly murder” by unidentified individuals on motorbikes.
Malian officials confirmed Ag Arahmat’s death and his upcoming burial.
The attack has raised concerns about retaliation by militants against those who collaborate with the Malian government.
Mali has grappled with a security crisis since 2012, facing attacks from militant groups and separatists in the north and east.
The MSA is a key ally in the fight against these groups, operating alongside the Malian army.
Gao, though, has been relatively spared from the worst of the violence.
This targeted killing highlights the dangers faced by those working to counter militant activity in the region, even in areas considered more stable.
