Mali: Authorities create “military zones” in forests
Mali: Authorities create "military zones" in forests suspected of harbouring jihadists.
Mali’s fight against terrorism has intensified as the junta announces the creation of “military zones” in around 40 forests, according to RFI and agencies on June 7th.
Announced on June 5th, the “military zones” are within national territory and off limits to civilians; the areas concerned encompass forests suspected of harbouring jihadists.
Covering the whole of Mali, these areas have effectively become “war zones”, where anyone found within the off-limits areas will be treated as a legitimate target.
Since coordinated attacks by the al-Qaeda-linked JNIM and the Tuareg-led Azawad Liberation Front (FLA) on April 25th, Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) have increased operations in northern and central Mali.
Defence Minister Sadio Camara was killed in the attacks, while the FLA recaptured Kidal on April 25th, where the group is allegedly holding over 200 FAMA troops captive.
The Wagadou forest, situated near the Mauritanian border, is one of the areas affected by the ministerial decree; the forest stretches 80 km long and 40 km wide and is also part of Mauritanian territory.
Claiming the Wagadou forest as a “military zone” may be controversial given recent tensions at the Mauritanian border.
Bamako claims that terrorists are coming from Mauritania, which Nouakchott has denied.
Unless Mali and Mauritania coordinate their military operations, fighting jihadists in the Wagadou forest will be difficult.
In March, two FAMA soldiers escaped after allegedly being held hostage by jihadists in the Wagadou forest region.
Although FAMA initially claimed the soldiers were released following a military operation, subsequent reporting found that their release was due to a ransom payment to their captors.
Since February, several people have been killed near the Mali-Mauritanian border, with FAMA and the Russian Africa Corps being implicated in several deaths.
FAMA and Russian forces have conducted cross-border raids in regions where the Mali-Mauritanian border is not clearly marked, such as Hodh El Gharbi.
JNIM, which is also behind the ongoing fuel blockade, maintains a presence at the Mali-Mauritania border, where they have ambushed FAMA and Russian auxiliaries.
On March 23rd, Nouakchott warned citizens to avoid travelling into Mali following killings at the border, which allegedly targeted members of the Fulani community, which is persecuted throughout the Sahel over suspected Islamist ties.
Maghrebi contacted the Malian Prime Minister’s Office for comment on the creation of “military zones” but has not received a response at the time of publication.
RFI and agencies, Maghrebi.org
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