Mali: various reactions in Kidal after the departure of Barkhane
French soldiers of the anti-terrorist Operation Barkhane in a street in Kidal, October 3, 2016. AFP / Stringer
Text by: David Baché
2 min
The military reorganization of the French system in the Sahel must be completed by the end of the year.
In Kidal, stronghold of the former independentist rebels of the CMA, the last convoy carrying most of Barkhane's soldiers who were stationed in the city left this week.
How do the inhabitants of Kidal perceive this departure?
RFI put the question to residents - only civilians, but of different sensitivities - who express themselves, for security reasons, anonymously.
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"
For me, it's a non-event,
" said the resident, who nevertheless took photos of Barkhane's convoy moving away from the city.
"
I have confidence in the CMA and in the Platform
[armed groups signatories of the 2015 peace agreement, editor's note]
to ensure our security," he
adds, "
more than in the peacekeepers and in the Malian army .
Because they are children from Kidal, we know them.
“A position shared by many residents, who do not hide their resentment against the French presence.
►
See also:
Operation Barkhane: the challenge of logistics convoys
"
They leave us in uncertainty
", laments this Kidalois, however, divided between his dissatisfaction with the French operation - "
they did not succeed in driving out the terrorists
" - and his fear that their departure would make matters worse: “
The jihadists will carry out more attacks,
he plans with regret,
and some men who dared not join them because of the presence of Barkhane will no longer hesitate to swell their ranks.
"
"
It was Barkhane who secured them!"
"
While some Kidal residents express their mistrust of the former rebels of the CMA, the presence of the Malian army, most often confined to its camp, and of the peacekeepers of the Minusma, who have a mandate to peacekeeping but an offensive anti-terrorist fight, do not reassure them any more: "
it was Barkhane who made them feel secure!"
», Exclaims a resident.
Beyond the terrorist risk, some are finally expressing their fears that trafficking and crime will increase.
The total strength of Barkhane will go from 5,000 to 2,500-3,000 men.
The objective remains to fight the terrorist groups active in the area: the Jnim, linked to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, and the Sahelian branch of the Islamic State group.
In northern Mali, like Kidal, other bases will be handed over to the Malian Forces and to the Minusma peacekeepers: Timbuktu and Tessalit.
►
To read also:
JM.
Tanguy: In the Sahel, "the coming months will be very intense for the Barkhane force"
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