Jihadist group takes over village in northern Mali
The area and Gao, another province of northern Mali, have seen a significant push by Islamic State in the Greater Sahara since early last year.
Boakyewaa Lawrencia 
A community in Ménaka, which is now largely under militant control, has been taken over by jihadists from Mali who are associated with the Islamic State organization.
After months of warfare, the Islamist extremists took control of another village, Tidermene, on Monday night.
A local official who escaped to Ménaka, the regional seat, verified the arrest and claimed the rebels were carrying guns while roaming around the community.
There have been conflicts with both Al-Qaeda-affiliated fighters and former Tuareg rebels who agreed to a peace agreement in 2015.
