Farabougou: the case that highlights the situation of the entire circle of Niono
Jihadist fighters in Mali.
(Drawing).
STRINGER / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
3 min
Incidents and concerns in the Niono circle, in central Mali.
It is in this area that the village of Farabougou is located, surrounded since early October by jihadist terrorists.
But if this locality has been very politicized and publicized, it is not the only locality affected by the violence: the grip of jihadist fighters extends over the entire circle, and has revived tensions between communities.
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Farabougou
is the tree that shows the forest.
Latest incidents to date: villagers prevented from going to their fields in Goma Koura last week, and the blasting of a bridge in N'Debougou on Monday evening.
Earlier this month, the commune's imam and his deputy were assassinated.
According to several elected officials and residents of the area, N'Debougou and the neighboring towns of Yere Don Saniona and Toridagako live under the permanent threat of jihadist fighters.
“
It is not a blockade like in Farabougou,
explains an elected official,
but the isolation of the inhabitants is reinforced.
Another abounds: "
They blew up this bridge to isolate dozo hunter camps, we must expect a new attack.
"
The army does not comment
For nearly two months, the area has been living to the rhythm of the violence that responds to each other.
On the one hand, traditional hunters accused of abuses against the Peuls: looted vehicles, breeders prevented from going to fairs.
Allegations of assassinations and kidnappings, difficult to verify, circulate in numbers.
On the other, jihadist terrorists who want to impose their extreme vision of Sharia law (fully covered women, levy of zakat, ban on street parties for children, etc.), as well as Fulani self-defense groups.
"
There have been de facto alliances against Dozo hunters, because their abuses go unpunished,
" says an elected official.
The army, which has bases in the circle and whose
soldiers entered Farabougou a month ago
, is accused of inaction and does not wish to make "
any comment on ongoing operations
".
Earlier this month, a Government Forum was organized in Niono.
The state was committed to disarming all illegal gun owners.
At the same time, the Dozo hunters and the Fulani community had reached an agreement to put an end to their hostilities.
Since then, the situation has continued to deteriorate, despite the commitments made.
Asked by RFI, the ministries concerned did not respond.
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