Mali: the end of a Ramadan marked by the coronavirus

Text by: RFI Follow

Malian Muslims celebrate the end of Ramadan. While some neighboring countries have closed places of worship to prevent the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, while others have prohibited collective prayer such as Mauritania, Mali has not been affected by the same prohibitions. But here as everywhere in West Africa, Ramadan 2020 was marked by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Publicity

With our correspondent in Bamako, Coralie Pierret

Throughout the month of Ramadan, Ousmane Touré respected all barrier measures. He wears a mask at the mosque and in his hardware store in Niaréla. In this district as in others in Bamako, young people had demonstrated at the start of Lent, in particular against the curfew established to fight against the coronavirus.

"  During Ramadan, generally, at night we pray, we find ourselves in public places, where there are preachers," says Ousmane Touré. It is indeed complicated. But the curfew was necessary. That is to say, you have to choose between life and death! That's it !  "

But the anti-curfew protests also had an explanation. This year, politics was invited during the month of Ramadan in Mali, explains Cheick Diallo from the shop opposite.

“  The Malian people, with the management of the Covid. The leader of the opposition, with the legislative elections. Never seen ! If it weren't for Ramadan, it wouldn't have happened like that,  ”said Cheick Diallo.

500 billion CFA francs announced by IBK

Added to this is the economic slowdown. Because of the coronavirus, Adama Diarra's work sites have not been renewed. Before one of the last prayers of Ramadan, he makes his ablutions, tarnished by the difficulties, in particular to buy the ox of the holiday.

"  The celebration of this weekend is within our means," says Adama Diarra. It is more difficult than last year. Maybe this is due to the disease.  "

In early April, President Ibrahim Boubakar Keïta announced that 500 billion CFA francs would be mobilized to deal with the coronavirus epidemic.

► Read also: Coronavirus: health workers returning to Kidal, in northern Mali

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