Mali: the offensive of the jihadists of the EIGS near Ménaka

The town of Ménaka, in northern Mali.

Wikimedia Commons / Animali

Text by: David Baché

1 min

Fighting has been going on since the start of the week between the jihadists of EIGS, the Sahelian branch of the Islamic State group, and the MSA and the Gatia, two northern Malian armed groups, signatories of the 2015 peace agreement. take place in the east of the Ménaka region, near the border with Niger.

Many civilians have been killed by the jihadists. 

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Tamalat on Tuesday, then Inchinane on Wednesday: these two positions held by the MSA and the Gatia, armed groups that signed the 2015 peace agreement, were attacked by jihadists from the EIGS, who came from neighboring Niger.

In mass, to create the surplus, explain the leaders of the two armed groups, who evoke 200 to 300 motorcycles, with generally two jihadists on board.

Forced to withdraw, the men of the MSA and the Gatia end up receiving reinforcements.

The Malian army did not take part in the fighting.

Asked by RFI, neither the army nor the Ministry of Defense wished to speak. 

In any case, the jihadists of the EIGS ended up retreating towards Niger.

But the calm is precarious and the groups do not rule out a resumption of fighting.

Above all, these groups as well as many local civilian sources confirm the massacre of many inhabitants by the jihadists.

"

It's a hecatomb, an indescribable horror

", laments a notable of Ménaka.

No precise figure could be cross-checked, but there is talk of several dozen civilians executed - around forty, even a hundred, according to the sources -, including women.

Many families have moved to camps or surrounding localities to flee the fighting.

And now require emergency assistance.

There is still no official statement from the Malian transitional authorities on these clashes and deaths.

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  • mali

  • Terrorism