In Mali, some of the hostages kidnapped last Tuesday April 16, near Bandiagara, were released. More than a hundred passengers on three buses traveling between Bankass and Bandiagara, in the center of the country, were intercepted by armed men. According to local sources, the kidnappers are jihadists from Jnim (Support Group for Islam and Muslims), linked to al-Qaeda. Other hostages are still being held, and the sorting was not done at random.
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At Mali, the women and children who were on board the three intercepted buses were immediately released. In the days following the kidnapping, dating from Tuesday April 16, men also found freedom. Mainly inhabitants of villages having concluded local agreements with the Katiba Macina of Jnim (Support Group for Islam and Muslims), linked to al-Qaeda.
Several dozen people were released, while several dozen remain detained, but no reliable figures could be obtained. It must be said that the total number of passengers itself is not known, as the coaches are often overloaded, especially as was the case that day, on market days.
This kidnapping has not been claimed but the numerous local sources contacted by RFI unanimously attribute it to the Katiba Macina of Jnim, which also has several similar kidnappings to its credit. The most recent precedent dates back to last November: the bus passengers intercepted at the time, in the same sector, had already been partially released, according to the same logic.
Respect the rules of the jihadists
In central Mali, in recent years, the populations of dozens of municipalities have had to agree to submit to the rules of the jihadists: for example, to pay them a tax, to conform to the ways of praying or even to the clothing rules that they impose, in order to be able to move freely and continue their agricultural activities.
These are the hostages coming from municipalities that have not concluded local agreements with the jihadists who still remain detained.
In recent days, demonstrations have been organized in several localities in the area to ask the transitional authorities to become more involved, in order to free the hostages and secure this national road 15regularly attacked by jihadists.
Read alsoA hundred people kidnapped in Mali: their relatives call on the transitional authorities