APA – Bamako (Mali) – Central Mali is the scene of numerous armed groups that do not hesitate to act in their own interests.
Over the past week, around a hundred civilians have been taken hostage in central Mali, while travelling in at least three buses that were stopped by armed men and driven into a forest between Bandiagara and Bankass, in the centre of the country.
The hostage-taking caused considerable tension among the local population in the Bandiagara region. Some residents, claiming to be members of the “active forces,” blocked several roads to protest against the growing insecurity and to put pressure on the authorities, who were accused of neglecting their security.
Demonstrations broke out not only in Bandiagara, but also in other towns in the region. Some have even threatened to intensify their actions unless concrete measures are taken to free the hostages and restore security.
Despite recent rumours of a release by the Malian army, the situation remains grim, with continued militant attacks, a growing number of displaced people and harsh criticism of the army’s inaction in the region.
Despite the temporary lifting of the roadblocks by the Bandiagara forces on Friday 19 April, they remain determined to reinstate them unless concrete measures are taken by Wednesday 24 April to guarantee the safety of the civilian population.
While insurgent groups, particularly the Katiba Macina, are widely suspected of being responsible for these kidnappings, the phenomenon has become a lucrative business. Other groups also demand ransoms in exchange for hostages, often in retaliation for military operations or to impose their will on the hostages’ home communities.
Central Mali is home to a large number of armed groups that do not hesitate to act in their own interests. The Bandiagara region has become the new epicentre of insecurity in central Mali, with an upsurge in armed violence that is difficult to contain.
MD/ac/lb/as/APA