The support group of Islam and Muslims, a Sahelian branch of Al-Qaida, has claimed multiple deadly attacks carried out in recent weeks near the Malian capital, thus installing a climate of fear “.
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In Bamako, soldiers and police have been on the lookout for days. Around the airport, in front of the portal of the administrative city housing a large part of the ministries, at the gates of large hotels as well as those of the presidential palace … The workforce and patrols were reinforced near the strategic points of the Malian capital for counter a terrorist threat which has rarely been so pressing.
“Combating units are already there and others will enter the capital day and night. (…) Large operations will take place, until the culmination of Sharia law,” warned jihadist Abu Yahya, one of the figures of the support group of Islam and Muslims (GSIM), in a four -minute video broadcast on social networks on July 28. Threat in the air or real warning, the Sahelian branch of Al-Qaida-a terrorist group that saw its leader, the Egyptian Ayman al-Zawahiri, killed by an American drone strike on Saturday to Sunday in Afghanistan – raised the tension in Mali.
On July 29, the US State Department ordered by press release the departure of part of its non -essential diplomatic staff and their families, based in Bamako, “due to the increased risk of terrorist attacks “. The Quai d’Orsay has hardened its instructions given to the French wishing to go to Mali by modifying His risk card published on the Embassy website, July 27. For the first time, the whole country was placed in the red zone – for “formally not recommended”. Only one exception: Bamako, which has so far kept its orange color and therefore always remains “not recommended except reason imperative”.
“more than ever”
Meanwhile, the Malian chief of staff put his troops on alert. In a confidential message addressed to the hierarchy, Brigadier General, Oumar Diarra, launched an appeal to “dedication, sacrifice and patriotism” in order to put an end to the large -scale jihadist offensive launched by the GSIM, on July 21.
This Thursday, at dawn, the group commanded by the Malian terrorist leader Iyad Ag Ghali sparked, in the center and in the south of the country, six coordinated attacks. In less than an hour and a half, several positions of the defense and security forces are attacked in three regions (Mopti, Ségou and Koulikoro) using heavy military equipment (vehicles trapped with explosive, shells). Some of the assaults are repulsed by the Malian armed forces (FAMA). Three soldiers die. In the process, the GSIM claims the coordinated offensive in a press release published on its propaganda platform Al-Zallaqa. “The attacks that will follow will be the most shocking,” he warns.
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