Mali: Islamic militants are moving southwards

Unrest and attacks in Mali show no sign of letting-up. Despite efforts towards a return to civilian rule and the drafting of a new constitution (Africa News, 12 June 2023), there are still frequent reports of violence in the northern part of the country. For instance, Al-Jazeera reported on 9 June 2023 that on the same day at least one UN peacekeeper had been killed and four others seriously injured when their patrol was ambushed in the northern town of Ber, in the region of Timbuktu.

World Watch Research analyst Yonas Dembele comments: “The frequent attacks serve as a reminder that violent Islamic militancy persists in the Sahel, posing a significant threat to the Christian population. While counter-terrorism measures have yielded some positive results, there is a worrying trend to be observed: Islamic militants are shifting their activities further south, thus posing increased danger to the Christian communities in those areas. These groups not only create a hostile environment through targeting Christians for attack, the very presence of their radical ideology influences the local Muslim population who then hamper the ability of Christians to freely practice their faith and participate fully in society. To mitigate this, more than the bolstering of security measures is required: It is essential to support initiatives that address the underlying drivers causing radicalization, such as socio-economic disparities, lack of educational opportunities, and political instability.”