AFRICA/MALI - Terrorist attacks in Bamako have secular and religious backgrounds

Bamako (Agenzia Fides) - The Islamist attacks carried out on September 17 in the Malian capital Bamako (see Fides, 18/9/2024) have various backgrounds, as local observers suspect. The attacks, which were claimed by the Islamist extremists of the "Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims" (JNIM), targeted the airport and the gendarmerie school and took place on the anniversary of the founding of this paramilitary corps (September 17, 1960). Sunday, September 22, is also the anniversary of national independence (September 22, 1960). On September 16, meanwhile, the birthday of the Prophet Muhammad was celebrated, on which Muslims around the world commemorate the birth of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. This feast is celebrated with great devotion in Mali and throughout the Sahel region and attracts many believers to Bamako. "The jihadists wanted to send a signal of resistance to the Malian government by carrying out their attacks during the secular and religious celebrations," said local observers. "It is possible that they were trying to create a split between the civil and religious authorities, as the feast attracts many Muslim believers to Bamako. And the jihadists may have taken advantage of the flow of pilgrims to enter in small groups and then carry out their attack. The Malian military even believes that the jihadists had already entered Bamako some time before the feast." "In addition, the Supreme Islamic Council of Mali has strongly condemned the attacks and declared that it was a crime that violated Muslim principles," the observers continued. The Episcopal Conference of Mali, meanwhile, in a statement sent to Fides, also expressed "great sadness at the terrorist attacks that have caused painful losses among the gendarmes and the military". The Bishops express their support for the authorities in this difficult period and thank the sacrifices of the armed forces and of the entire Malian people for defense, sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity", says the message, which concludes with an invitation to the faithful to pray and work for peace, because 'peace is a gift from God and the fruit of the work of men'. Finally, it should be noted that the jihadists attacked the gendarmerie training center between 4 and 5 a.m., catching the young students who were gathering, unarmed, for the flag-raising ceremony by surprise. The video released by JNIIM showing a plane being set on fire on the runway at Bamako airport must also be seen in context. According to observers, the plane shown was a disused aircraft. The jihadists also tried to set fire to the presidential plane, but failed. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 20/9/2024)

Share:

jihadists

---

---

bishops

---

---