By RFIPalled on 03-23-2019Modified 23-03-2019 at 15:20

In Mali, the Islamist and Muslim Support Group (GSIM), the main al-Qaeda jihadist alliance in the Sahel, has claimed responsibility for attacking Malian soldiers in the military camp in Dioura, in the center of the country. from the country. The attack took place on March 17 and killed nearly 30 people.

It is in the night of Friday to this Saturday, March 23rd that the communiqué reached us. The claim follows the usual channel of jihadist communication, via the Mauritanian agency Al-Akhbar. GSIM presents the attack as a reprisal for the crimes committed by the government and its militia against the Fulani.

Iyad Ag Ghali's movement also said that the attack was carried out by men from Macina, an active group in central Mali , under the command of Amadou Koufa himself, who recently reappeared in a video when thought he had been killed in a French operation in November.

A claim deemed credible

Joined by RFI, Boubacar Salif Traoré, director of Afriglob Conseil, a specialist in defense and security issues, explains why this claim is plausible.

" From the first hours of the attack, those present on the spot recognized certain elements as elements of Iyad Ag Ghali. Indeed, it is their modus operandi, namely attacks very early in the morning that usually last no more than two hours and which ultimately bear the mark of support group for Islam and Muslims. The fact that Amadou Koufa himself led the attack is also plausible because it is, in fact, his main area of ​​activity. Moreover, let us not forget that today, for the support group for Islam and Muslims, the major challenge is to reinstate Amadou Koufa in his initial position, ie say head of the Katiba Macina, knowing that if it turns out that Amadou Kufa is dead and that the group continues to actually believe that he is alive, it would be very disastrous for his image in the area ", said -t it.

The Islamist and Muslim Support Group claims that the attack was not directed by Ba Ag Moussa, a former deserter officer of the Malian armed forces. The Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) initially attributed to him the paternity of this operation.

Political consequences

In addition to the trauma for the Malian army, this attack also has profound political repercussions. A national mourning of three days was decreed on Friday, and President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta has lectured the military hierarchy suggesting that there had been negligence Dioura and he would tolerate more.

Families are angry, though. Women and children of soldiers killed in various attacks demonstrated Friday in Segou and Sévaré, in the center of the country to denounce the lack of resources of the army. Thursday, in Nioro, in the west of the country, it was the chief of staff who was conspired.

    On the same subject

    Mahamat Saleh Annadif, head of Minusma: Dioura attack is "a blow"

    Mali: Defense Minister at the scene of the Dioura attack

    Mali: Concern around Dioura after the attack on the army

    Mali: wave of indignation after Dioura attack

    Mali: very heavy toll of the attack against the army in Dioura

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