This Saturday, September 9, Mali enters its second day of national mourning after the series of attacks claimed by Jnim, the Support Group for Islam and Muslims, linked to al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. On Thursday, two attacks targeted the Bamba military camp (Gao region) and a boat which was sailing in the Rharous circle (Timbuktu region). On Friday, in Gao, a Malian army camp and the airport were targeted. Thursday’s attacks left at least 64 dead, but Mali expects a much higher final toll.
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” It’s a general offensive », Comments a Malian security source. The Jnim has already been engaged, for more than a month, in a blockade of the city of Timbuktu, where the jihadist group prevents the arrival of goods. Other roads, in the regions of Timbuktu and Gao, have also become targets of recurring attacks.
In the Ségou region, in the center, the Jnim claimed responsibility on Wednesday September 6 for an operation against the Wagner group, a complement to the Malian army. Attacks have also increased in recent weeks in the central Mopti and Bandiagara regions.
But the attacks Thursday and Friday are notable for their magnitude, by their complexity and by the high number of victims too, even if the final results are not yet known. They occur while Minusma is in full withdrawal. The Blue Helmets have already left the camps of Ogossagou, Ber, Goundam, Ménaka… They will have completely withdrawn from Mali by the end of the year.
The Malian army is reorganizing and gradually taking over the bases left free by Minusma, as it did after the departure of the French Barkhane force. Last week, the army general staff judged terrorist groups to be in a situation of “feverishness”. The transitional authorities have made the fight against terrorism one of their priorities.
Read alsoThe head of the UN mission in Mali confident of a withdrawal of Minusma in six months