In Mali, tensions persist in the Tessalit region. This morning, exchanges of fire took place between the Malian army and the rebels of the Permanent Strategic Framework (CSP). The incident took place following the landing of a Malian army cargo plane in this locality, which is a major issue in the conflict between the two camps.
According to UN sources, the Malian army plane landed this morning in Tessalit around 6:30 a.m. It is a large volume aircraft mainly used for transporting military equipment, but which can also be used to transport troops. Details of the cargo on this flight remain unknown at this time. Shortly after its arrival, around 6:45 a.m., the plane took off again, leaving little time for the unloading of equipment.
However, these maneuvers were disrupted by CSP rebels, who opened fire on Malian soldiers present in the Tessalit camp. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported at this stage. According to a military source from Minusma, this was an attempt at intimidation on both sides.
The CSP rebels confirmed the exchanges of fire, specifying that they lasted less than an hour and ended around 7:20 a.m. For their part, the Malian army did not wish to comment on the incident, but a press release issued later in the morning confirmed the smooth landing and takeoff of the Malian army plane in Tessalit, despite the shootings attributed to “terrorist groups”.
This incident occurs a few days after the arrival of Malian soldiers and Russian auxiliaries from the Wagner group in Tessalit, which aroused the anger of Chadian peacekeepers and CSP rebels. Minusma and the Malian army share use of the Tessalit runway, and tensions have arisen regarding control of this area.
The situation is all the more worrying as Minusma plans to leave Tessalit in the coming months as part of its total withdrawal from Mali. The Malian army, for its part, has expressed its intention to recover the UN bases of Tessalit, Aguelhoc and Kidal, which raises additional tensions with the CSP rebels.
This new incident highlights the difficulties faced by the United Nations in meeting its withdrawal schedule, due to obstacles posed by the Malian government. Minusma warns that these difficulties could have an impact on its ability to withdraw in time.
At the same time, the civilian population of Tessalit finds itself caught in the middle of these growing tensions. Many residents chose to flee the region for fear of fighting between the Malian army and CSP rebels, as well as the deployment of Russian auxiliaries, accused of violence against civilians..
Faced with these events, it is essential that the various actors involved in the conflict in Mali redouble their efforts to find a peaceful and lasting solution. The current tensions only aggravate the already precarious situation in the country, and there is an urgent need to put in place mechanisms for dialogue and negotiation to achieve a resolution satisfactory to all parties.