Mali: in Farabougou, the situation deteriorates between the Malian army and the jihadists
Satellite image of the village of Farabougou, in central Mali.
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Text by: David Baché
2 min
Since the entry of the Malian army in Farabougou, this locality in central Mali subject to a jihadist blockade, a precarious calm reigned.
But this Friday morning, this tacit pact of non-aggression between the military and the jihadists was broken.
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About twenty villagers, perhaps 24 according to several elected officials from the area, were kidnapped while they were participating in the harvest, in fields in the commune of Dogofry, near Farabougou.
Some sources also mention burnt crops, but it would in fact be, according to a local elected official, straw fires whose origin remains to be determined.
In any case, this is the end of the
precarious calm that had established itself
after the
arrival of the Malian army
in Farabougou at the end of last week.
Mediation initiated by local notables continued until a recent blockage.
Fear of a new cycle of violence
Earlier this week, the jihadists said they were ready to liberate the area, provided that the traditional dozo hunters of Farabougou lay down their arms.
Categorical refusal of the hunters.
The jihadists then, in the words of a mediator, "
raised the stakes
", demanding to recover the weapons of the dozos.
“
We cannot arm the jihadists ourselves
!
», Underlines this mediator, whose
optimism displayed in recent days is
now giving way to fear: that of a new cycle of violence.
Asked by RFI, the Malian army, present in Farabougou for more than a week and which encouraged the continuation of the discussions, while promising new counterterrorism actions, did not provide details.
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