It has been a week since the Malian special forces entered the village of Farabougou, in the center of the country, in the Ségou region. But those who present themselves as jihadists who have surrounded Farabougou for more than two weeks are still present in the area. On the spot, the situation remains calm, but the problems are not solved. Mediation initiated by local notables, such as traditional chiefs, local elected officials, and community and religious representatives, continues.
Malian army soldiers protect Farabougou, and no jihadist attack has been lamented in neighboring countries since last Friday 23. October.
On both sides, we are giving the ongoing mediation a try. “The soldiers let the discussions take place, and that’s a good thing,” explains a member of the mediation team, who at first, like other notables in the area, feared that the arrival of the army would cause another round of violence. As for the territorial representatives of the state, from the governor to the sub-prefects, “they encourage talks without participating in them.”
For despite the presence of soldiers in the village, the inhabitants are still not free to use the roads connecting Farabougou to other localities. The jihadists are still present. At the beginning of the week, suggestions were sent to them, showing previous exchanges. In particular, the jihadists would agree to liberate the area and return the stolen cattle, provided the traditional dozo hunters in Farabougou agree to lay down their arms.
A commitment that these traditional hunters would have made, but without being involved in the meetings with the jihadists. The brokers are therefore now trying to “convince them to participate”. “We are on the right track, one of them will believe despite the slowness”.
► To read also: Mali: the issue of dialogue with the jihadists continues to arise in Farabougou
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