Mali jihadists affiliated to the Islamic State group have taken over a village in Ménaka – a region that is now largely under militants control.
The Islamist militants seized another village – Tidermene – on Monday night following months of fighting.
A local official who fled to the regional capital Ménaka confirmed the capture and said the insurgents were moving around the village with weapons.
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Since early last year, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara has launched a major offensive in the area as well as in Gao – another region of northern Mali.
There have been battles with the Al-Qaeda-linked fighters as well as Tuareg former rebels who signed a peace deal in 2015.
SOURCE:BBCNEWS
