Mali : Le GSIM mène un "jihad économique" (Timbuktu Institute)
Jihadists from the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM) are waging a form of "economic jihad" in western Mali aimed at weakening the region, the Timbuktu Institute think tank said in a report published Friday.
In recent days, the jihadists have imposed a blockade in the south and west of the country, border areas with Senegal and Mauritania, from where vital products for the country's economy arrive every day.
Mali, ruled by a junta, has been facing a profound security crisis since 2012, fueled in particular by violence from groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) organization, as well as community criminal groups.
In its report, the Timbuktu Institute believes that the jihadist strategy aims at "the progressive weakening" of the region "by carrying out a form of economic 'jihad' by targeting vital logistical axes."
The Kayes region (west) is a "strategic economic hub" and the road linking Bamako to Dakar via Kayes "is a crucial commercial axis", "facilitating more than 70% of Malian imports", the report states.
Since the beginning of September, the GSIM has been setting up occasional roadblocks on the main roads leading to the capital, causing significant disruption to the movement of goods and people near Bamako and in the west of the country.
"The group is thus seeking to suffocate Bamako," notes the West African think tank based in Dakar.
"By targeting key supply routes," the jihadists are disrupting "Bamako's supply of essential fuel and food, causing price increases and increased food insecurity," he continued.
Having no access to the sea, Mali transports most of the products it needs (hydrocarbons, fish, fruits and vegetables, etc.) by road from the port of Dakar, Mauritania or the Ivory Coast.
Last week, several witnesses interviewed by AFP reported seeing a line of cars stopped for more than ten kilometers on the Ségou-Bamako road near the capital because of the blockade.
At least ten buses were set on fire across the country by jihadists.
A private transport company particularly targeted by jihadist attacks has announced the suspension of its activities "until further notice for security reasons."
Although the Malian army initially downplayed the jihadists' actions on the ground, it finally announced the dispatch of troops to the western and southern roads to "restore order."
The report finally notes the "targeting of foreign companies, particularly Chinese, to undermine the confidence of Mali's economic partners."
Commentaires (4)
Au Sénégal lors des évènements de 2021 avec quelques 80 morts on concidéré cela comme un combat contre le régime sanguinaire de Macky que dire de ce combat au mali ou l'armée massacre des civils de dizaines de villages
Le problème c'est que tu déverse ta haine sans répondre à ce que j'ai écrit. Et tu te permets de poser des question.
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