Mali: des jihadistes prennent le contrôle d'une localité stratégique
Al-Qaeda jihadists have taken control of the strategic town of Farabougou in central Mali, imposing their rule on the residents, a week after seizing the town's military camp, local sources told AFP on Thursday.
Amid rising jihadist violence in the Sahelian country, the capture of Farabougou is symbolic. One of the first measures taken by the junta that seized power in 2020 was to end the jihadist blockade on the village of several hundred inhabitants.
The capture was claimed by jihadists from the Al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM in Arabic), in messages published on its Al-Zallaqa propaganda platform.
Local officials who fled the area confirmed to AFP on Thursday that Farabougou had come under JNIM control.
Last week in this locality, the army had to desert its military camp, one of the most important in the region, after an attack by jihadists.
Since then, the army has not intervened to regain control of the village or its base, and the authorities have simply acknowledged an attack on this military position without giving any figures.
Farabougou, located some 400 kilometers north of Bamako, is also strategic due to its central position in the Ségou region (center).
After the military position was taken, civilians initially fled the city, but some are now returning, accepting to live under jihadist law, according to residents contacted by AFP.
"The village chief signed with the jihadists to say that we would respect their laws. So they said we could return," a resident told AFP by telephone, adding that the army has still not returned.
"What do you want the residents to do? Some have nowhere to go," said a local elected official.
The inhabitants of Farabougou must now pay a tax to the JNIM and comply with its rules: a ban on secular music, cigarettes or alcohol, and a ban on women going out without covering their heads.
Since 2012, Mali has been facing a profound security crisis fueled in particular by violence from groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda, the Islamic State (IS) organization, as well as community criminal groups.
Commentaires (16)
Continuez à rêver,en tout cas le rêve est un droit obligatoire pour les humains
Ce qui est bizzare c est les senegalais ne font jamais de bilan avec ces nullards. Sonko s est promene avec l avion presidentiel en se rendant dans ces pays. Resultats? On attend
Il s est rendu en chine avec une communication a outrance. Resultats? On attend
En Turquie. Resultats? On attend.
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En CI il s habille je ne sais en quoi
Choisissez la paix et non la guerre, car lorsqu,elle commence, on connaîtra son début, jamais sa fin
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