The Malian Armed Forces (FAMa) maintain the pressure on the Terrorist Armed Groups (GAT) by continuing the offensive dynamic of search, neutralization and destruction of their sanctuaries, within the framework of Operation Kèlètigui of the Maliko plan.
Thus, during the month of February, the FAMa neutralized 153 terrorists and arrested 79. Also, Malian soldiers destroyed 15 terrorist bases, as many Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), recovered 7 vehicles, 46 motorcycles as well as a large quantity of weapons and ammunition including 74 PM, 20 hunting rifles.
These results were recorded through 84 offensive missions carried out by the FAMa, including more than twenty airborne operations, reconnaissance missions, air strikes, drone interventions and artillery strikes. These operations were carried out in several localities in the Center and North of the country as well as certain parts of the South, in particular the sectors of Ménaka, Ansongo, Bourem Bandiagara, Bankass, Kona, Boni, Macina, Niono, Douentza, Ténenkou, Sofara, Djéné , Nara and Kita….
In addition, these missions have enabled our soldiers to recover more than 100 heads of oxen in the Tessit area (Circle of Ansongo, Gao Region) and 49 bags of 100 kg of rice for the benefit of the populations in terms of Zakats from the hands terrorists. During the reference period, the Army also escorted 112 vehicles on the Ménaka-Gao and Gao-Labbezenga-Gao axes. During these clashes, the National Army deplores seven dead and 24 wounded.
These insights were given yesterday during the traditional monthly press conference of the Directorate of Information and Public Relations of the Armed Forces (Dirpa). The conference was hosted by the director of the said service, Colonel Souleymane Dembélé, in the premises of the structure.
For more than an hour, the speaker largely explained to the journalists the contests of the military operations on the ground before lending himself to the questions of comprehension of the latter on the rise in power of the FAMa. Before recalling the major activities carried out at the level of the department in charge of Defense and the General Staff of the Armed Forces in February.
According to Colonel Souleymane Dembélé, the security situation of the past month has been marked by terrorist attacks against the FAMa in static or on the move through ambushes and poses of IEDs, as well as civilian populations. However, the senior officer was pleased with the decrease in acts of robbery and murder compared to January.
Moreover, the head of the Dirpa took the opportunity to invite the populations to be vigilant and to exercise restraint against the propaganda, brainwashing and misinformation of certain media whose sole purpose is to sow chaos, division and desolation in our country, especially on social networks in connection with the rise of the army.
In this regard, he reassured that the actions of the FAMa are in strict compliance with the Agreement for Peace and Reconciliation resulting from the Algiers process and strict respect for human rights and international humanitarian law. .
Aboubacar TRAORE
