Africa press review
Headlines: Moura, the impossible investigation…
Audio 03:53
The crest of the Malian Armed Forces - FAMa © Agnes COUDURIER / AFP
By: Frédéric Couteau Follow
3 mins
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For the Malian press, in recent days, it's clear: the FAMa, the Malian armed forces, have done a good job in Moura, in the circle of Djenné.
The Investigator
in Bamako recounts:
after the destruction of terrorist bases throughout Malian territory by our valiant soldiers at the end of 2021, terrorist groups had recently returned to the locality of Djenné to put pressure on peaceful civilian populations who collaborated with the Malian army .
Following his information and the heartfelt cry of the people of the locality, the FAMa carried out an operation in the circle of Djenné at the end of March.
The balance sheet is very heavy according to the press release from the General Staff of the Armed Forces.
This large-scale operation, which took place in the Moura area (…), enabled General Oumar Diarra's men to neutralize 203 fighters from armed terrorist groups and arrest 51 people.
»
“A sabotaged success…”
Tjikan,
another Malian periodical, comments: “
a dismantled terrorist base!
Fear has changed sides,
exclaims
Tjikan
again .
The time when the country's enemies reigned supreme with unceasing carnage against our law enforcement and security forces and against the innocent civilian populations, that time is over.
»
"
Moura, a resounding victory for the army
," applauded the front page of the daily
L'Essor
.
L'Essor
, which regrets that this "
success
" is "
sabotaged by a whole group of pseudo-specialists in the Sahel and alleged defenders of human rights, objective allies of terrorist groups, highlighting losses among the civilian population to tarnish the image of the army.
»
Moreover,
Malijet
is formal: “
no civilian was killed by the Malian army in Moura.
The Malian news site claims to be based on testimonies from local residents.
Summary executions?
Many local and international sources do not have the same interpretation of the facts at all…
In particular, reports
Le Monde Afrique
, the NGO Human Rights Watch which estimates that "
about 300 civilian men, some of whom are suspected of being Islamist fighters
", were "
summarily executed
" by the FAMa and their "
foreign
" auxiliaries during of this incident, described by the NGO as "the
worst atrocity
" reported since the start of the war in northern Mali in 2012.
“
From the start of the siege of Moura,
reports
Le Point Afrique
,
local and international NGOs warned of indiscriminate violence that was underway in the village.
Information that reached the Minusma, the UN Mission in Mali present, not far, in the region of Mopti.
»
“
Like the EU, many international partners and NGOs are now waiting for an independent investigation by Minusma
,” points out
Jeune Afrique
.
lead screed
However
,
the
Minusma is still waiting for the green light from the Malian
authorities
... 'or his troops to the Minusma so that the truth about the abuses in Moura comes to light. Hence the difficult equation of the Minusma. Recall that in the past,
still points
The Country, the Minusma had been able to investigate numerous allegations of abuses committed by the Malian or French Forces, as in Bounty, a little over a year ago.
The UN report was then overwhelming for the Barkhane force.
But the arrival of Russian auxiliaries alongside the Malian soldiers and the secrecy maintained by Bamako around their activities have considerably limited access to certain information and to certain areas.
»
Especially, underlines
Le Monde Afrique
, that the pressures of the junta on Malian organizations for the defense of human rights and on journalists have intensified.
Finally, it should be remembered, on March 17, Bamako ordered the suspension of the broadcasting of RFI and France 24, accused of “false allegations” after denouncing abuses by the Malian army and Wagner against civilians.
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