Mali’s ruling junta has cancelled independence day celebrations
Mali's independence day which is on the 22nd of September has been cancelled by the ruling junta. The cancellation gives insight to the violent extremism in the country.
Colonel Assimi Goïta, leader of the Malian junta has cancelled Mali’s independence day celebrations. Mali’s independence day which occurs every 22nd September will be ‘sober’ this year. This is as a result of a boat attack by armed terrorist groups, that killed at least 49 Malians last week.
The ruling junta will shift funds for the independence celebrations to humanitarian assistance for the bereaved families.
Colonel Goïta came into power by a staged coup in August of 2020. This also coincidentally saw the cancellation of the Mali’s independence day celebrations. This is due to the disruptions caused by his coup.
Mali has been overcome with violent extremism for more than a decade. Extremist groups swept into northern Mali in 2012 reigniting the Tuareg rebellion that had been dormant since 1963, 1990, and 2006.
Colonel Goïta is reportedly close to some of the Tuareg rebels of the 2012 invasion. He is likely to further the interests of the Tuareg people in the region. His regime is accused of committing human rights violations and of violating international law.
Only 10% of the Malian population is Tuareg. Nevertheless, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and other Islamist groups have allied themselves with them to establish an autonomous state.
Tuareg rebels in northern Mali have recently seized control of a military camp and posts in the town of Bourem. This comes after weeks of fighting against the national army and Wagner mercenaries, threatening to unravel a 2015 peace deal.
This also comes after the withdrawal of UN peacekeepers in the country who aided in keeping the peace.
The cancellation of Mali’s independence day shows a sign of concern by the ruling junta. However, in the midst of acts of terrorism within Mali and across the Sahel Region when will the region finally have peace.
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