This Sunday 31 December marks the official end of the United Nations mission in Mali (Minusma), which had ended shortly before. While the Malian army, with the decisive support of the Russian paramilitary group Wagner, managed to retake the city of Kidal from the rebels of the CSP-PSD coalition on November 14, the security situation continues to represent a problem on the ground: since then At least two jihadist attacks occurred in the North on Friday.
Published on: 12/31/2023 – 01:50
1 minute
With our regional correspondent, Serge Daniele
THE departure of Minusma from Mali is not synonymous with the end of security problems on Malian territory… at least for the moment: jihadist groups they have, for example, claimed responsibility for attacks in the north of the country against national army positions.
HAS Timbuktu Saturday 30 December involved grenades thrown by jihadists. Last month they fired mortars at the town of Kidal, which the army regained control of last month. In contradictory statements, each side claims to have inflicted losses on the opponent.
For the Group for Support of Islam and Muslims (Jnim), an ally of Al-Qaeda, the departure of Minusma and the control of the city of Kidal by the Malian army – supported by fighters from the Russian paramilitary group Wagner – constitute a new stage in the struggle. This will continue, he said Iyad Ag Ghalythe leader of the terrorist group, in a video.
For the Malian junta, however, Minusma’s definitive departure is rather an opportunity for the national army to deploy the necessary means on the ground to guarantee the safety of property and people.
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2023-12-31 00:50:34
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