Mali: Coalition of armed groups prepare to clash with junta

Armed groups in Mali are prepared to defend themselves against the ruling junta, according to The South African, September 11. 

Junta-led Mali has been in the hands of the military since 2021, since a coup saw Mali’s then President, Bah N’daw, being overthrown by the Malian Army. 

A coalition of armed groups, part of a peace agreement in the nation’s Northern region, stated on September 10 that they will defend themselves against the junta. The coalition has claimed that Mali’s rulers are flouting mutual security commitments. 

Deadly attacks earlier this month saw 64 dead in the Gao region (located in Northern Mali) after a group of Islamist extremists targeted a river transport boat as well as a military base.  

The coalition of armed groups, The Permanent Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP), called on civilians to refrain from being in the vicinity of military facilities as further conflict could break out. 

The Sahel region has been a washed with insurgencies linked to prominent terrorist groups for almost a decade. It is believed that jihadist groups have capitalised on the withdrawal of UN peacekeeping troops from Mali in June of this year. 

THE SOUTH AFRICAN