City of Sévaré threatened by rebels
Captain Sanogo received an urgent request from mlitary headquarters in Sévaré for the weapons and equipment and he sent supplies from the shippment that had been held in Guinea. At the same time, Iyad Ag Ghali demanded the registration of Sharia law in the Malian Constitution.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/City-of-Sevare-...
Sévaré has been used for several months as the headquarters of the Malian armed forces as a base for the reconquest of the north. It seems that the city is the focus of attention for the Islamist forces of Ansar Dine and Mujao. When Bilal Hassan, one of its leaders from Gao, defected two months ago, he revealed to the Nigerian authorities that Mujao, which occupies Gao had already sent forces to encircle Sévaré and to take the city as it is the location of the first elements of the international force of reconquest. However this may be false information.
Douentza was raided by islamists on Thursday, 3 January . 2013. 200 vehicles loaded with heavily armed jihadis entered the city. According to sources, they were young vigilante militia. They also sought to recruit young fighters. Between 100 and 150 000 CFA monthly was promised to all new recruits who joined Mujao. Many young men in Douentza, desperate because of the disappearance of the north of Mali, responded to the call of bandits. They told their recruits that jihad will soon extend to Sévaré.
These threats came as Mujao's ally Ansar Dine, announced the withdrawal of its ceasefire offer in a statement from Ansar Dine's leader Iyad Ag Ghali as reported by Sahara Media on 3 January. In the Timbuktu region, several vehicles have advanced towards the south. 'If there is not a gesture from mediators, it is likely that Ansar Dine will continue its offensive, " said Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, President of the Institute of the Sahel, on the French TV channel France 24 .
According to sources, the rebels have all agreed to attack and destroy Malian positions in Sévaré before the announced arrival of 400 European military instructors. It will be a way for them to compromise the instructors and delay any deployment of African troops in the north. The rebel leaders were also angered by President Dioncounda Traore's statement in a recent speech that Mali would not wait seven months to attack the rebels.
If Sévaré falls it would have a negative effect on the Malian army's morale as nothing seems to be able to stop the islamist forces.
Douentza was raided by islamists on Thursday, 3 January . 2013. 200 vehicles loaded with heavily armed jihadis entered the city. According to sources, they were young vigilante militia. They also sought to recruit young fighters. Between 100 and 150 000 CFA monthly was promised to all new recruits who joined Mujao. Many young men in Douentza, desperate because of the disappearance of the north of Mali, responded to the call of bandits. They told their recruits that jihad will soon extend to Sévaré.
These threats came as Mujao's ally Ansar Dine, announced the withdrawal of its ceasefire offer in a statement from Ansar Dine's leader Iyad Ag Ghali as reported by Sahara Media on 3 January. In the Timbuktu region, several vehicles have advanced towards the south. 'If there is not a gesture from mediators, it is likely that Ansar Dine will continue its offensive, " said Ahmedou Ould Abdallah, President of the Institute of the Sahel, on the French TV channel France 24 .
According to sources, the rebels have all agreed to attack and destroy Malian positions in Sévaré before the announced arrival of 400 European military instructors. It will be a way for them to compromise the instructors and delay any deployment of African troops in the north. The rebel leaders were also angered by President Dioncounda Traore's statement in a recent speech that Mali would not wait seven months to attack the rebels.
If Sévaré falls it would have a negative effect on the Malian army's morale as nothing seems to be able to stop the islamist forces.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/City-of-Sevare-...