Mali: 37 terrorists neutralized by the army

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Mali said Monday in a statement that it had neutralized 37 « terrorists » in the sector of Dourou, a village located 25 km from Bandiagra in the centre of the country.

«The General Staff of the Armed Forces informs the public that on Monday 24 April 2023, the Fama intervened in the Dourou sector, 25 km from the town of Bandiagara following an alert of a terrorist attack. Combining air and ground means, the Fama first targeted about twenty terrorists», said Colonel Souleymane Dembélé, Director of Information and Public Relations of the Armed Forces (Dirpa in french).

According to Dembélé, « a terrorist position of about 30 scattered motorbikes and 10 terrorists hiding in a small forest were treated and destroyed, as well as a dozen terrorists trying to escape. 29 terrorists were neutralized as a result of the air strikes».

«Secondly, the terrorists who escaped the strikes were caught by the ground units engaged in the exploitation of the strikes with the neutralization of 08 terrorists, the recovery of 22 motorbikes, several weapons and ammunition, as well as various communication materials», reads the communiqué.

In addition, the army announced on Sunday evening that it had conducted an «offensive reconnaissance» in several areas of the Menaka region in the north of the country.

The same source explains that a major operation was carried out on Sunday, April 23, 2023 on intelligence in the Tin-fadimata area located 27 km northwest of Menaka, which led to the arrest of twelve (12) terrorists and the recovery of war materials.

The general staff of the Armed Forces specifies that the security situation in all recognized sectors, including Tebesselamane, In-Agar, Chimam, and Tin-fadimata, remains calm before inviting the signatory movements of the Peace and Reconciliation Agreement stemming from the Algerian process to coordinate their movements with the FAMA (Malian Armed Forces).

«It is important that all parties with a constructive spirit accept this principle because the security of the Malian population remains our priority», concludes the general staff of the Armed Forces.

 Since 2012, Mali had been experiencing a terrible insecurity situation. Despite the deployment of regional and international forces, there is not yet stability.

Sitou