Jihadists are constantly hounded by Minusma units, the UN force and Operation Barkhane's special forces managed by the French army. They were forced to change their strategy. They seem to have opted for guerrilla warfare to further terrorize the population and tire their pursuers. Today the situation is clear: armed groups avoid as much as possible the direct "contacts" with French and Malian soldiers. They also resumed their suicide attacks, to kill the maximum of people. It is within the same spirit that terrorists lay down improvised landmines, everywhere in northern Mali.
So, the local population who thought they had got rid of terrorism, are today torn apart by fear and anxiety. This fear intensified after the arrest of several young people in Kidal bearing explosive vests ready to explode. Other young people were arrested while they were laying landmines in the roads leading to several towns of the region. This is the new reality that northern Mali is now facing.
In reality, the population was probably too naive to believe they had got rid of the terrorist threat. While it is true that the reconquest of the north was quick, however, it is clear over time that many terrorists had managed to escape from falling through the cracks of Serval and Barkhane operations. To be unnoticed, they simply hid among the population. Others left the region. An area they have now recovered to commit all kinds of abuses. They also resumed carjacking to finance their criminal activities.
Armed groups such as AQIM, Al Mourabitoune, Ansar Dine, the Mujao or the Macina Liberation Front have today enough resources to carry out large-scale terrorist actions. They still have a significant nuisance potential despite the deadly blows targeting them by the French army in recent years.
There are tens of victims. Mamadou is one of them. He was a victim of a landmine laid by a terrorist group near Kidal. Mamadou lost his leg. "They are attacking everyone now., including civilians. The units of the Minusma and Barkhane are not their only targets. I am one of their many victims. How am I going to live now? Who will feed my children? ", laments Mamadou lying on an old mat.
The escalation of terrorist acts begins also to affect trade in Kidal and in the surrounding communities. Since the attacks resumed, visitors have become scarce, trade has been at a standstill and shops have no longer been supplied with food. "The turnover of merchants in the region has been declining since 2013. This is a disaster. At this rate, we will all shut down. How to continue to bring goods when you know that you will ultimately be robbed. Roads are not as safe as before", complains a major merchant from the city of Kidal who used to buy his supplies from southern Algeria.
In reality, it is life that is affected by the situation. Even breeders are now afraid to take their herds graze outside the cities. "What do you want me to tell you? We are afraid to venture outside the city. Breeders face these stories of improvised landmines spread through the dunes and pastures. We no longer have access to some water points because of this problem. Even our cattle are exposed to danger, "said Moussa Ag Acharoumane, a camel breeder.
For their part, the units of the Malian Armed Forces and the Minusma spare no effort to secure the area and reassure the population. But their work is not easy as there are too many armed groups and the territory to control is immensely large. Sidi Mohamed Ag Saguid, a leading military official in the region admits it. "We have not managed to secure all our territory because of the presence of terrorists. We feel they are everywhere. They are harassing us. Recently, they have been re-establishing themselves as a fighting force. Some groups have become more brutal. They commit inhuman acts, "he said, confirming thus the information that terrorists have undermined many communication means."
The concern of Sidi Mohamed Ag Saguid is also shared by the head of the security station of Adjel-hoc who is working for Minusma. "We are cleaning the area but I admit it's not easy. There are too many jihadists and they are everywhere," he said, adding that terrorists have substantial equipment and financial resources. Financial means, he warns that enable them to pay monthly salaries of up to 200.000 f CFA (300 Euros) for those young people they recruit. Our interlocutor does not hide that "terrorist groups have a great influence in some areas." The population still remembers the 2011 nightmare, are praying day and night so that Mali will not be back to square one.
