The West African state is embroiled in a political, security and economic crisis, and has since 2012 been ravaged by different groups affiliated to Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group.

In a statement, the Malian army said that units in Tagadeyate in the eastern Menaka region had on Sunday "captured Ahmad Ag Ditta, a top leader of the EIGS", referring to the French acronym of the Islamic State in the Greater Sahara.

It claimed Ditta was "responsible for a large number of violations and abuses of all kinds against innocent civilians, and the sponsor of attacks against the Malian armed forces".

The army said Sunday's operation "also led to the neutralisation of several EIGS fighters and the recovery of various military equipment, including numerous improvised explosive devices (IEDs)."

Since seizing power in back-to-back coups in 2020 and 2021, the military has broken off its anti-jihadist alliance with France and European partners, while turning politically and militarily towards Russia.

Mali's junta pushed the UN stabilisation mission, MINUSMA, to leave the country last December amid deteriorating relations.

Earlier this month, Human Rights Watch condemned "atrocities" committed against civilians by Mali's army, the Russian mercenary group Wagner, and Islamist armed groups since the peacekeepers' withdrawal.