In Mali, the Dan Na Ambassagou self-defense militia, made up of traditional dozo hunters, officially disbanded by the Malian state last year, is urging the Malian transitional authorities in a video recorded on December 16 to strengthen the army’s presence in Dogon. She even issued an ultimatum to the government, a fierce message that also reflected a certain weakening.
Ax on the shoulder and sunglasses on the nose, Youssouf Toloba speaks directly to interim President Bah N’Daw, which he accuses of abandoning the country to terrorists. The military leader of the Dan Na Ambassagou militia (“hunters who trust God” in the Dogon language) accuses the Malian army of leaving the Bankass circle after the attack on the Sokoura camp, where 11 soldiers were killed by AQIM in October, and issues an ultimatum : if the soldiers do not return by December 20, he will personally join the jihadist ranks, or those who are separatists in Azawad.
Provocation
A provocation to be understood, of course, in the second degree, because these groups are his sworn enemies: Youssouf Toloba would never want to go with them, and these groups would never accept him in the midst of them! Above all, these allegations carry their share of truths: not only did the Malian army not abandon the area after the attack on Sokoura, but even carried out an extensive counter-terrorism operation in which Malian soldiers were also accused by local elected officials and human rights groups. rights for abuse committed with the help of dozo hunters linked to Dan Na Ambassagou.
Weakening
Above all, according to several researchers who specialize in the field who closely follow the activities of this militia and who prefer to speak anonymously, this speech would conceal a form of disorder. If Dan Na Ambassagou has long been supported by the Malian authorities, so far that it plays a complementary role for the army, this militia is today very weakened.
First, through the actions of jihadist groups, who inflicted on it “a series of setbacks”. Then by the authorities, who no longer officially show him the same support as before. The current security minister, Colonel Modibo Koné, one of the junta’s vice presidents who led the coup on August 18, is even a personal enemy of Youssouf Toloba, whom he had fought directly two years ago, when he was stationed in the center of the country. At that time, Colonel Modibo Koné had even burned a hundred motorcycles belonging to Dan Na Ambassagou, then the fighting had directly opposed his soldiers against hunters in Toloba, who had even called on the authorities to demand transfer! “The appointment of Colonel Koné to the post of Minister caused a great deal of reaction in Dogon circles near Dan Na Ambassagou,” said a warning observer on the subject.
Last year, the government officially dissolved Dan Na Ambassagou. An announcement rejected by the militia and which was never acted upon, but from which the state’s support deteriorated. Although occasional collaborations between the army and the dozo hunters continue to be reported and documented.
Wrong
Finally, the movement faces a series of recently defected, with some of its cadres, and many of its supporters, preferring to follow local peace agreements concluded between dozo hunters and jihadist groups in the center of the country (especially in the Koro circle, but also in Douentza or Bankass , according to the interviewed sources). Among the traditional hunters in the area, more and more people would leave Dan Na Ambassago’s lines to join more “original” movements – this is the literal translation of “Dan Na Antem”, a competing dozo movement – who prefers to hunt games without disturbing Malia’s political and security life. Which is the original vocation of traditional hunters.
If there is no exact figure, the interviewed scientists estimate that “in heaven” a few years ago, Dan Na Ambassagou – and its military leader Youssouf Toloba – could mobilize hundreds of men, “maybe even 1,000 or 2,000 Dozo hunters, but also members of Dogon’s monitoring and self-defense committees, were formed to meet the threat of jihadist fighters, ready to follow him. “Today, he no longer controls many people on the ground,” the contacted sources unanimously estimate sees this video as an unequivocal attempt to resume cooperation with the Bamako authorities, but also to put pressure on Dogon’s cadres from the Malian army.
Ogossagou
In an expert report, published in August last year, the UN recalled that Dan Nan Ambassagou was “listed by Minusma’s human rights and protection department who committed violence and atrocities against other communities in central Mali, sometimes with the consent and support of local authorities. having killed more than 150 civilians in the village of Ogossogou on March 23, 2019, the militia was officially dissolved the next day by the Malian Council of Ministers, but refused to comply with this decision and continued to enjoy the support of a number of local leaders. ”
Many organizations, including Human Rights Watch, accuse the Malian authorities not only of using or even creating this militia but of not initiating legal proceedings against their members. Starts with its military leader Youssouf Toloba, who remains free from his words and his movements.
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