Bamako, Mali – Hundreds of civilians are fleeing the central Malian town of Farabougou and its surrounding villages, a week after a jihadist attack on a military camp.
Local and military sources confirmed that soldiers have evacuated their garrison in the town, located approximately 300 kilometres north of the capital, Bamako. The area is now under the control of the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an al-Qaeda-linked group that has claimed responsibility for the assault.
The army has described its withdrawal as a strategic move in preparation for a counter-offensive. There is currently no information available regarding the number of casualties from the initial attack.
The JNIM is the primary group behind a wave of jihadist attacks across West Africa, particularly in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger. The group rejects the authority of Sahel governments and aims to impose a strict interpretation of Sharia law in the regions where it operates.
Since a military junta seized power in Mali, the government has severed ties with its former colonial ruler, France, and has established a closer relationship with Russia. Mercenaries from the paramilitary Wagner group and its successor, Africa Corps, are now assisting the Malian army in its fight against jihadist and other internal adversaries.
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