Ibrahim Ag Inawalen

Ag Inawalen was born in Abeïbara, Kidal Region, Mali.^[1] He was a colonel in the Malian army until 2006, when he deserted.^[2][1]

When the Mali War began in 2012, Ag Inawalen joined Ansar Dine and became commander of the group in Aguelhok.^[3] In January of 2012, he took part in the Battle of Aguelhok and may have been responsible for the massacre of the Malian garrison.^[2] Ag Inawalen was also responsible for the stoning of a couple in the city who had conceived children outside of marriage.^[1]

In 2013, Ag Inawalen took part in the Battle of Tigharghar against French and Chadian forces.^[4] He then participated in negotiations with Mohamed Akotey in the release of four hostages from Arlit, and afterward Serge Lazarevic.^[1][5] Following the death of other jihadist leaders, Ag Inawalen became the second-in-command of Ansar Dine around 2014 to 2015.^[1]

Ag Inawalen was killed in a French airstrike the night between May 17 and 18, 2015. That night, he met with Abdelkrim al-Targui, a leader of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, in an area northeast of Kidal. The two jihadists and their two bodyguards were killed in the operation.^[6][7]