BAMAKO — Ahmad al-Faqi al-Mahdi, sentenced to nine years in jail by the International Criminal Court for destroying heritage sites in Timbuktu, was known as a ruthless enforcer for jihadist group Ansar Dine when it took over the fabled Malian city.Born around 40 years ago in Agoune, 100km from Timbuktu, the curly-haired former teacher was steeped in Islamic learning from a young age.He fast became a fervent proponent of the strictest interpretations of Islamic law, which had little popular support in Mali, but his chance came when jihadists descended on Timbuktu in April 2012. Mahdi was soon recruited by the Islamist group Ansar Dine as "the most competent and prominent person in Timbuktu when it came to being knowledgeable in religious matters", in the words of ICC prosecutors.Among a group of outsiders, Mahdi stood out for his local knowledge while also being a fluent Arabic speaker, and his scholarly background lent a veneer of credence to the Islamists’ call to destroy several U...
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