A year after France mounted Operation Serval to rid northern Mali of jihadists, they seem to be back. According to local sources but also the security forces, jihadists have regained a foothold in several areas, reports The Guardian.
Islamists have pressured families hostile to their presence to leave their homes. Over the past six months al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) has murdered several people who helped the French military in Mali, in particular Touareg members of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA). At least 10 people have been killed.
There is also growing concern at the repeated attacks by suicide bombers or with mines and small arms on French, Chadian and Malian forces despite the presence of 6,000 troops from the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Mali (Minusma) on the ground.
On 20 February a French helicopter on a reconnaissance mission near Tessalit was hit by ground fire and a crew member was injured. The aircraft was able to land safely but rumours that it had crashed spread through Bamako.
Three groups are involved in the insurrection in northern Mali: AQIM; the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao); and Ansar Dine, led by the Touareg Iyad Ag Ghaly. The latter group are the most visible in the field, concentrated in their traditional sphere of influence, north of Kidal, close to the border with Algeria. At the beginning of February the population of Boughaessa was told that it must either show its support or leave. Several families fled the village.
Later that month, according to a local source, Sheikh Ag Awissa, aka Abu Muhammad, and other Ansar Dine cadres summoned residents and explained they would be keeping a low profile with regard to the French forces, but would nevertheless be increasingly active.
Extending his sphere of action, Ghaly is recruiting young people and stockpiling provisions from across the border. He is also taking advantage of tensions among local tribes, in particular the Irayakan and Telkatana, to tighten his grip.
Meanwhile his AQIM allies are busy attacking MNLA positions on the border. They recently mounted an assault on Talahandak, a town used to conceal weapons, vehicles and equipment.
Read more of this report from The Guardian.