Armed bandits threaten travellers, and rob them of their belongings and luggage throughout the entirety of these routes. Fear and anxiety have overcome travellers and transporters alike.
Fright Road
Fatima Bint Mohammad, who lives 60 kilometres away from Timbuktu in a town called Bier, tells us of her journey across the “Fright Road”. On her way from Bier to In Khalil, near Abu Kirsha Valley, Fatima’s vehicle was brought to halt by a group of vailed men in army outfits. “They threatened us with weapons and ordered to get off the car” says Fatima, “They searched the men and took their mobile phones and all the money they had, and they asked women to give them all the money they had”.
While they searched Fatima’s bag, the driver pulled out his weapon and fired a few shots in the air, “they immediately left and ran away” says Fatima, “but that did not make the impact of the incident better. Everyone was afraid until the trip was over”.
“We do it to earn our bread”
Causes and motivations of bandits vary, but the fact is that thefts have become very regular, some bandits even find justifications for their actions. Ali Wild Alarabi, who worked as a bandit for years, says “I worked with a well-known group. We did it to earn our bread; situation is dire, and there are no ways to earn an income”.
Wild Alarabi recalls their operations; “we used to force vehicles to stop. We would threaten passengers with mostly bullet-free weapons, the goal is merely to scare them. We might as well get what we want without firing a single bullet. Drivers often retaliate and shoot at us, we either shoot back or retreat.”
“We operate at night” Wild Alarabi says; “when we see headlights, we exchange information and prepare to force the vehicle to stop, either with our weapons, or by placing an obstacle on the road. Then it’s a matter of collecting what they have with ease”.
Ahmad Amloua, who works as a driver between Bier and In Khalil, says that “bandits do what they do in broad day light and night”, the reason for that according to Amloua is “the absence of state armed security forces”.
Amloua carries on to say that he does not navigate this dangerous road unless he has his own weapon, “to protect myself and my passengers from these road blocking bandits”. He pointed out that he prefers taking longer and safer routes, “away from the sight of bandits”.
Timbuktu governor’s media consultant Sidoua Sisi says that thievery has proliferated since the crisis began, “but it has notably increased since the peace and reconciliation treaty in Mali was signed over a year ago”. According to Sisi, the prolonged absence of security forces in some regions, allowed bandits to thrive. The man carries on to say “We are carrying out comprehensive operations in some areas, in coordination with some collaborating armed movements”.
Hussain Agh Issa
