African Union Commission calls for international action in Mali

In official statements released by the African Union Commission, the chairman has expressed great concern over the current political tensions in Mali, Africanews reported on 10th November.

Mali’s capital, Bamako, has been in a state of chaos for the past few weeks following fuel blockades that have been attributed to the jihadist group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM). JNIM’s blockade campaign has shaken public confidence in Mali’s military government, which struggled to crack down on JNIM’s activities as civilians desperately lined up for fuel, leading to nations including the US and France urging their citizens to leave the country. Despite the head of Mali’s military junta, Assimi Goita, directly responding to the mass fuel shortage across the country, there has been little implemented by the government thus far in terms of solutions.

The African Union Commission’s chairman, Mahamoud Ali Youssouf, spoke on the situation in Mali, condemning JNIM’s assaults across the country. He expressed deep concern over the situation, which he described as “rapidly deteriorating” before urgently calling for international action.

Youssouf discussed the worsening humanitarian conditions being experienced by Mali’s civilian population. The prevalent conflict between Mali’s junta and Islamist militant groups has led to civilian displacement in certain areas. He called for an international counter-terrorist response in the Sahel, where many jihadist extremist groups are prevalent.  Also, Youssouf went on to further condemn JNIM for their abduction of three Egyptian nationals who were captured by the group in Mali.

Ultimately, the African Union Commission’s statements bring attention to the rapidly destabilising situation occurring in Mali currently. The Bamako government are clearly struggling under increasing assaults and blockades from Islamist Militant groups such as JNIM.

As the security situation worsens, there are concerns that JNIM could seek to expand its activities in Bamako, mounting pressure on Mali’s ruling junta.

Africanews, Maghrebi.org, Egypt Independent