Source : Sahel weather January 2025

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In its determination to combat the terrorism that has plunged Mali into a security crisis for more than a decade, and to reinforce stability, the transitional government, through Major General Daoud Aly Mohamedine, Minister of Security, handed over a large consignment of rolling stock to the Gendarmerie Nationale on January 10. This action is just the first in a long series of government initiatives aimed at restoring public confidence.

Following suspicions of his involvement in atrocities against civilians in Ménaka and Gao, the Malian armed forces (FAMa) have finally arrested Mahamad Ould Erkehile, alias Abou Rakia, one of the top leaders of the group Etat Islamique au Grand Sahara (EIGS). État Islamique au Sahel (EIS) is the new name of the EIGS group, following the massacres of civilians in Ménaka in March 2022. This arrest comes against a backdrop of intensified anti-terrorist operations by the Malian army. According to investigations, there is a link between Ould Erkehile and other regional terrorist figures, such as Ossama Madalo, Abou Houzeifa, and Adnan Walid Alsarahaoui, founder of the group, as well as his lieutenant Abdel Hakim Alsaharaoui and Rhissa Alsaharaoui.

Meanwhile, in central Mali, a massacre of civilians resulted in the death of eight civilians. According to the Front de Libération de l'Azawad (FLA), the Malian army and its Russian partners from the Wagner group were behind the massacre. The Malian army and Russian mercenaries fired on a group of Malians on their way to a refugee camp in Mauritania, according to a local elected official speaking on condition of anonymity. According to one of the victims' relatives, they were all killed and buried in a mass grave.

Meanwhile, five FLA fighters have reportedly surrendered their vehicles and ammunition to the authorities in Timbuktu, specifically to the command of the country's 5th military region. Colonel Bassirou Niangado praised "the initiative of these lost brothers who have decided to return to the Republic". The FLA's version is quite different. According to the separatist group, the vehicles and ammunition were stolen by criminals during a leave of absence.  The FLA maintains that it was a "maneuver orchestrated" by the Malian army and the "Bamako junta" in exchange for financial compensation. "Since the resumption of the war [...] in 2023, never has a vehicle and its armament belonging to our Movements been taken by the FAMAs or their mercenary allies from Wagner", says the FLA spokesman. The fact remains that, since the recapture of Kidal in 2023, the Malian army has been pursuing operations against separatist movements to ensure the security of Malians on their own territory. The continuation of security operations is more than urgent for Mali in the sense that attacks do not stop multiplying for all that.

A new diplomatic impetus in Mali?

In the pursuit of relations with other countries in the region, His Excellency General Assimi Goïta received his counterpart His Excellency General Abdel Fattah AL-BURHAN, President of the Sovereign Transitional Council of Sudan. The latter made a friendly working visit, and was invited to the Palais de Koulouba for a day of activities by Army General Assimi Goïta, President of the Malian Transition. 

Passports for nationals of AES countries were put into circulation on January 29 in Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso to facilitate the free movement of nationals of the three countries. The announcement was made by Army General Assimi Goïta, President of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES). Although the old passports are valid until their expiry date, "citizens of the Confederation holding old passports bearing the logo of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) can have them replaced by new AES passports in accordance with the relevant rules".

Now that the passports have been put into circulation, the transitional government must face up to the allies of what could be described as Mali's most present absentee, Imam Mahmoud Dicko, who has taken refuge in Algeria. Indeed, in line with its doctrine of non-interference, Algeria seems more aware than ever that questions of national security depend on the security situation in the Sahel. Welcoming Imam Dicko can be seen as a sign that Algeria has always been an actor for peace in the Sahel. An expert in international relations considers that "Algeria has always been a peace player in the Sahel, and the hospitality extended to Mahmoud Dicko is part of a desire to support an inclusive political solution in Mali". As a result, the Imam continues to hold sway in Mali thanks to his unconditional supporters, who are influential religious leaders and popular Malian movements that support Mahmoud Dicko's fight through constructive criticism of Mali's current governance.