On 1 March, the Chadian army claimed to have killed Mokhtar Belmokhtar. According to a government statement, Mokhtar along with several other extremists were killed, and weapons, equipment, and 40 vehicles were seized. In April, the Chadian government dismissed their previous claim of killing Mokhtar, saying he blew himself up, along with several other militants, in despair after learning about the death of Abou Zeïd.[9]