The Malian town of Tessit, located in the east of the country, has once again been surrounded by the Islamic State jihadist group, which has imposed a blockade on the town, prompting local authorities to warn of humanitarian consequences, without the military junta making any pronouncement on the matter.
According to information gathered by the Malian radio station Studio Tamani, members of the jihadist group Islamic State in Greater Sahara (ISGS) began the blockade during the day of December 23, preventing the passage of vehicles heading to the area.
Local sources quoted by this media indicated that three public transport vehicles were intercepted between Lellehoye and Tessit, although their occupants are safe and sound. «The situation is becoming increasingly unbearable for the populations in Tessit and Lellehoye,» the authorities warned.
Community officials have therefore called on the Malian transitional authorities to find a solution to the situation and warned of the risk of «food insecurity». The city was already under a similar blockade at the beginning of the year.
Several terrorist groups operate in Mali, including Al Qaeda and Islamic State affiliates. In addition, inter-communal violence has increased, in a context marked by the coups of August 2020 and May 2021, led by Assimi Goita, currently transitional president.
The junta is facing increasing international isolation. In fact, French President Emmanuel Macron recently made official the end of the ‘Barkhane’ operation in the Sahel, amid the withdrawal of international troops due to tensions with Bamako over its postponements of elections in order to stay in power and the deployment of mercenaries from the Wagner Group.
Source: (EUROPA PRESS)
