Witnesses: it is a crusade against Islam in Mali
Tuaregs and Arabs are stuck in Mali’s northern towns between French planes which have killed tens of people and armed attacks. They are concerned about their future as nothing is certain.
Civilians are suffering from the war and destruction. They only look for living in safety in their villages. People from Songhai and Azwad including Arabs and Tuaregs are killed in silence.
Starting from Niger
January 13th was the third day of the French war on northern Mali. Security guards are mobilized in the International Airport of Niamey.
Far from Nigerien and Chadian military forces which were deployed along routes and border points in the desert, driver Abdelkarim passed by a check point after policemen had been given about 100 Euros.
It was about 7 am. The town of Menaka was under Tawhid and Jihad fighters’ control. Yet, they started withdrawing progressively. Residents were arranging their luggage to get ready for travelling to neighboring countries such as Niger, Algeria or even Burkina Faso.
Some people who fled Menaka told Echorouk Jihadists advised them to not use satellite phones because they may have been localized quickly.
According to a Jihadi fighter, Ansar Eddine group’s leader Cheikh Abu fadl Eyad Ghali participated in battles against the French and Malian forces which wanted to kick the group out of Konna.
“Abu Al Fadl trained activists and deployed them in good sites in coordination with the other groups which toppled two French military helicopters. He killed more than 10 Malian soldiers and wounded others,” he said.
Residents in “run away” journey on 400 km
Staying in one place may be very dangerous. According to desert residents, Nigerien and Chadian forces got through Mali.
On the route between Menaka and Ansongo, there were only warplanes heading from Niger for Malian territories. They were keeping watch on Islamist fighters.
In Ansongo, armed masked men stopped Abdelkarim’s car and asked to not use the satellite mobile phone all the time in order not be localized by the French forces.
At that moment, a man was on a motorbike going to Yasi in Niger. “Most of Muslim residents fled the town while tens of other civilians joined Jihadist groups to defend their city from Malians’ Barbary ad attacks,” said Mustapha Amadi and continued his trip to flee the French planes shelling.
Gao between Jihadists’ resistance ad Arabs and Tuaregs on the run
It is almost impossible to be impartial in a war area where civilians including children and old people are suffering.
Two weeks ago, Gao used to be crowded by visitors, traders and Islamists. Today, it became almost empty. There were two journalists only: a correspondent from a channel from the Gulf and Echorouk’s reporter. Patrols Islamist fighters urge people to hold on and fight the French forces or stay at home.
Life in the town is almost ordinary. People have water and electricity starting from 6 pm until 11 pm. Yet, Jihadists cut telecommunication network through cell phones.
The main avenue next to the central market and the local government’s headquarter was almost empty as most of the traders were Arabs or Tuaregs. They took out their goods and left to safer places.
“Nothing left to us in this town except walls and iron portals. We took all our properties and our children to Bordj Badji Mokhtar or Mauritania,” said Mohamed Baki.
At 10 pm, planes whiz and bombardment were heard from the airport side. Abdelkarim said he did not see Jihadists’ cars in the street. Many people who supported Islamic law implementation go out from the town as fearing of French attacks.
“It’s a crusade against Islam,” say residents
In the city of Gossi, a family was killed. “Malians and Europeans perpetrated this massacre. Where are Muslims? Where is the whole world? Why are they keeping silence over the killing of Muslims? Aren’t’ we humans? Do they fear God? It is a crusade against Islam. Free people! Stop France and its African allies who want to kill every Muslim and Arab!” said a relative of the massacred family.