Military juntas struggling for support as Islamist rebellion gains ground in West Africa
Geoffrey YorkAfrica Bureau Chief
Johannesburg
Published Yesterday
Most of the violence is linked to a coalition of Islamist groups, known as JNIM, which has an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 fighters in its ranks. Another group, Islamic State, is also active in the region.
A report by a panel of United Nations experts said the deteriorating situation is “deeply concerning.” The JNIM network is continuing to expand its territorial control in the region, it said.
“JNIM reached a new level of operational capability to conduct complex attacks with drones, improvised explosive devices and large numbers of fighters against well-defended barracks,” the experts said in their report to the UN Security Council in July.
“The group increasingly positioned itself as a governing actor, seeking to control territory, establish rudimentary governance and gain local support.”
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The military regime in Mali has tried to battle the Islamist insurgency by recruiting thousands of Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group to assist it, but this has allegedly led to further atrocities, provoking more discontent.
Human Rights Watch says the Russian and Malian troops have killed and kidnapped dozens of civilians since January after accusing them of collaborating with JNIM.
“The Wagner Group has become more reactive and violent - allowing the very terrorist groups they were hired to neutralize to gain more control and increase recruitment in Mali,” investigative research group The Sentry said in a report last month.
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At one time in Mali, funds were raised through kidnapping foreigners for ransom but few remain in the country because of the deteriorating security situation.
Cattle-rustling has now become a major source of income, according to an analyst from Gi-Toc. They did not want to be named as it could risk their safety in Mali.
"Mali is a big exporter of cattle so it's easy for them to steal animals and sell them," the analyst said.
Research by Gi-Toc shows that in one year in just one district of Mali, JNIM made $770,000 (£570,000) from livestock. Based on this figure, JNIM could be earning millions of dollars from cattle theft.
JNIM also imposes various taxes, according to experts.
"They tax the gold, but basically tax anything that goes through their territory, whether that's listed goods or illicit goods," Gi-Toc says.
"There can be an extortion type of tax, where JNIM tell citizens they need to pay in return for protection."
The militants have also been known to set up blockades, at which people must pay to leave and enter the area, according to Ms Ochieng.
BBC
French were recently kicked out with some accusing them of collaborating with the rebels. There have even been accusations that the kidnappings of soldiers were staged to funnel weapons, intelligence, and cash to the rebels. |
