[RFI] On Friday, September 4, Mauritanian authorities arrested 17 people and recovered two vehicles containing weapons in Bassiknou, in the Hodh Ech Chargui region, bordering Mali. A well-known figure in the Malian jihadist group Ansar Dine, now part of JNIM, was among those arrested. All the suspects were transferred to Néma for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.
Members of the Mauritanian National Guard stand in formation during a training exercise with members of the National Guard's "Mehariste" unit, in the Hodh Ech Chargui region, on April 7, 2025. (Illustrative image)
Members of the Mauritanian National Guard stand in formation during a training exercise with members of the National Guard's "Mehariste" unit in the Hodh Ech Chargui region, April 7, 2025.
Among those arrested on Friday, September 4, 2026, in Bassiknou, Mauritania, was a figure known by his nom de guerre: Sanda Ould Bouamama, former spokesperson for the Malian jihadist group Ansar Dine – now part of JNIM, linked to al-Qaeda. His real name is Sidi Mohamed Ould Bouamama.
He is a figure linked to the Malian crisis of 2012-2013. He was then the spokesperson for the Islamist group Ansar Dine, led by Iyad Ag Ghaly in northern Mali.
WANTED IN 2013 FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY
Holding dual Malian and Mauritanian nationality, Sanda Ould Bouamama surrendered to Mauritanian authorities in the spring of 2013 to escape Malian justice, which had issued an international arrest warrant against him for crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide, murder and terrorism.
Mauritania finally released him in 2015. A decision that sparked outrage from many human rights organizations.
Security forces also seized two pickup trucks that were carrying weapons and ammunition.
According to our security sources, these weapons originated in northern Mali and are linked to rebel groups active in the region. Investigators are seeking to determine the exact quantity of weapons seized, their final destination, and the potential reach of the network.
The Mauritanian authorities have not officially commented on this matter yet.