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In Mali, more than ten days after the launch of a large-scale operation in the village of Moura, circle of Djenné, Mopti region in central Mali, the general staff of the armies finally gives details and a balance sheet: more than 200 jihadists killed in this area which was completely besieged by the Malian Armed Forces (Fama) and their Russian allies.
In this area where the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (GSIM), linked to AQIM, is very active, many humanitarians have been warning for days about numerous abuses against civilians.
According to the staff of the armies of Mali, this operation was the fruit of very precise information on the holding of a meeting between several katibas, in the area of Moura. Conducted jointly by ground forces and airborne troops including special forces, it was followed “ systematic cleaning of the entire area and lasted nine days.
The toll is heavy in the enemy camp. According to this press release, 203 terrorists have been eliminated and around fifty others arrested. Two hundred motorcycles were also seized and burned. Large quantities of weapons and ammunition were also recovered. On the other hand, the press release does not mention any losses within the Fama.
Since the beginning of the siege of Moura, local and international NGOs have warned of indiscriminate violence that would have claimed many civilian victims. This concern also seems to be shared by the Minusma which says to itself, in a tweet, ” deeply concerned about allegations of violence against civilians during these clashes. The UN mission in Mali ensures that it is ” in consultation with the Malian authorities to establish the facts and circumstances of what happened.
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The general staff of the Malian armies wanted to be reassuring in its press release. Respect for human rights and international humanitarian law remain a priority in the conduct of operations “, he assures, before inviting the population to hold back against the ” defamatory speculation against the Fama.