Mali: counterterrorist strikes in Niono, the ceasefire remains valid for civilians
Satellite image of the village of Farabougou, in central Mali.
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Text by: David Baché
3 min
In Mali, the Malian army and the French force Barkhane announce having carried out a joint operation in the circle of Niono.
Twenty jihadists were reportedly killed by airstrikes on Monday in this circle where a ceasefire agreement was reached in mid-April.
But this agreement does not commit the armed forces, neither Malian nor French.
It is therefore not called into question.
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The strikes took place Monday in the Alatona area.
In its press release, the Malian army evokes a joint operation with the French force Barkhane which confirms the strikes.
Report posted: 26 "terrorists" killed, a destroyed pick-up, and a large quantity of weapons and a vehicle seized.
This large-scale operation follows an ambush set two days earlier by the jihadists of Katiba Macina, affiliated with the Support Group for Islam and Muslims and therefore AQIM, against the Malian army, in the same area. .
A Malian soldier had lost his life.
These clashes occur a month and a half after
a ceasefire agreement
concluded, in the same circle of Niono, between jihadists of Katiba Macina and traditional dozo hunters.
This agreement made it possible, after six months of deadly clashes, to restore the freedom of movement of the civilian populations.
It was concluded under the aegis of the High Islamic Council, mandated by the Malian government.
But you have to understand that the government facilitated this agreement without taking part. Bamako has also refused to withdraw
its soldiers from the village of Farabougou
, as the jihadists wished. One way for the authorities to let the Dozo populations and militias come to an understanding on the ground with the jihadists, who control a large part of the area, without giving up on their side to fight them.
The ceasefire agreement therefore remains in force, jihadists and dozo hunters are still committed not to attack civilian populations and to allow all inhabitants, regardless of their ethnicity, to move freely.
This was confirmed to RFI by a community executive involved in the conclusion of this ceasefire.
An official ceremony to celebrate this agreement, which is to be held in the town of Niono, is also being prepared.
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