OFAC makes SDGT designation on Mali terror group leader

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (‘OFAC’) has said that, in concert with the Department of State, it has taken action that targets Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (‘JNIM’), a west African terrorist group, designated in September 2018, ‘by designating a JNIM leader as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 13224, which targets terrorists and those providing support to terrorists or acts of terrorism.’

According to OFAC, Bah Ag Moussa is designated ‘for acting for or on behalf of JNIM [and for] acting for or on behalf of JNIM leader, Iyad ag Ghali, who was designated pursuant to E.O. 13224 in February 2013.’

It says that in March 2019, ‘Moussa led a terrorist operation against a Malian armed forces base in Dioura, Mali that killed at least 21 Malian soldiers.  Moussa is a close associate of Iyad ag Ghali, a United States and United Nations sanctioned terrorist and the head of JNIM.  Moussa is a former Colonel who deserted the Malian Army to join armed terrorist groups, and is responsible for leading attacks in several other localities in northern Mali.’

See identifying information at:
https://www.treasury.gov/resource-center/sanctions/OFAC-Enforcement/Pages/20190716.aspx