The Malian army said in a statement on Friday evening that it had killed “203 combatants” of “armed terrorist groups” during an operation in a Sahelian zone in central Mali carried out from March 23 to 31.
This “large-scale” operation, which took place “in the Moura area 17 kilometers northeast of Kouakjourou in the circle of Djenné”, made it possible to kill “203 fighters” from “armed terrorist groups”. , in addition to “the arrest of 51 people” and the recovery of “significant quantities of weapons and ammunition”, indicates the army in its press release.
AFP was unable to verify the death toll provided by the Malian army.
Jihadist violence has killed dozens of civilians in recent weeks in central-eastern Mali and the so-called three-border region (between Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, editor’s note), the mission of the UN (Minusma) in the country, plunged into turmoil since 2012.
This vast expanse is the scene of violence and clashes between many of the armed organizations (regular and irregular) present on the ground, including between groups affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State organization.
The jihadists are accused of attacking civilians whom they suspect of collaborating with their enemies or informing them. At the same time, NGOs and ex-rebels incriminate the Malian armed forces (FAMa) for alleged abuses.
The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, called in a report submitted to the Security Council this week on the army of this country and its “bilateral partners” to respect their “international obligations” during anti-terrorist operations.
In Mali, “the human rights situation remained precarious, mainly due to deliberate and widespread attacks against civilians by suspected extremist armed groups. In some cases, counter-terrorism operations have also had disastrous consequences for the civilian population, particularly in central Mali,” he said in his report.
The Malian army, in its press release on Friday evening, replies that “respect for human rights as well as international humanitarian law remains a priority in the conduct of operations”.
The staff “invites the populations to exercise restraint against defamatory speculation against the FAMa”.
Nearly 18,000 people have arrived in Niger after fleeing heavy fighting in northern Mali between different armed groups, the UN also announced on Friday.