A MUJAO sleeper cell dismantled in Mali: Ministry of Security

BAMAKO, Mali – A spokesman for Mali's ministry in charge of security confirmed that a terrorist sleeper cell belonging to the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa was discovered in the Malian capital, and dismantled.

Sougalo Togola, press officer for the Ministry of Internal Security, said Tuesday that the members of the cell were arrested over one month ago. The information was confirmed by an intelligence official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press. "There was indeed a MUJAO cell in Bamako and it's been dismantled," he said.

Photographs of the seven suspects were published Tuesday on Maliweb, a news portal which often publishes messages from the military. All seven have the last name "Diallo," indicating they're from the Peul ethnic group.