Pentagon could target Algerian Mokhtar Belmokhtar, in bid to rid Mali of militant islamists
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Officials in Washington are considering a "significant" expansion of the United States' targeted-killing programme into Africa. According to the Wall Street Journal, they are debating whether to add Algerian militant Mokhtar Belmokhtar to the Pentagon's so-called "kill list." For now, the US has been providing information to allies about his suspected whereabouts. But that could change because of his role in the gas plant hostage-taking in Algeria. Dozens of foreign hostages died in In Amenas, including three Americans. RFI talked to a former US diplomat who believes targeting Belmokhtar could lead the US to play a more active role in the campaign to oust radical Islamists from Mali.