Citizens of the northern Mali city of Aguelhoc are demanding the removal of Minusma, the UN peacekeeping mission. They held a press conference in Bamako on Friday afternoon, June 18. Aguelhoc residents believe that the Minusma camp, sometimes targeted by terrorists, poses a threat to their security.
“The population first demands the evacuation of the Minusma camp, but also demands justice for the innocent civilians killed by the Chadians, according to Souleymane Ag Ehat, a representative of Aguelhoc’s youth. As you know, five civilians were arrested and three executed during the attack. “Unfortunately, this is not the first time. Every time, the people of Aguelhoc are victims of this kind of barbarism.”
The population fears being caught between a rock and a difficult place. In early April, the Chadian peacekeepers rejected a major attack in Aguelhoc. According to residents, they also abused civilians. a few days later.
“The people are afraid, the city is desolate”
For Souleymane Ag Ehat, the Minusma camp must be at least 7 to 8 kilometers from the city, as in Kidal or Tessalit.
But Minusma does not seem ready to move immediately: “It was a very recent meeting between the actors and with Minusma,” explains the representative of Aguelhoc’s youth. At first they have told us that it is a very expensive budget, but they will “work with it”, they will find a solution. And after a few days, laMinusmaa made a press release. They told us that it is not possible for Minusma to move today. We even saw in their press release, they say that the people of Aguelhoc today are encouraged by terrorists to demonstrate, while it is far from it. We, the people of Aguelhoc, are simply asking for the right. We are not manipulated by terrorists, we are a population that demands their rights. The people are afraid, the city is desolate, all the inhabitants of the city of Aguelhocse are expelled. “
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