In Mali, thousands of displaced people have decided to return to their villages in the Bankass district, located in the central part of the country. This return was made possible by local agreements reached between village communities and the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (Jnim), an Al Qaeda affiliate.
Villagers can now reclaim their homes and fields, but on conditions imposed by the jihadist groups, including mandatory veiling for women and a ban on Western-style education in schools.
School closures and mandatory veiling imposed
These conditions cover dress codes and mandatory prayer rituals. Men are required to wear short trousers, state-run schools are closed—effectively banning Western education—and women must wear the veil. In exchange, villagers, predominantly from the Dogon and Fulani communities, are now permitted to cultivate their fields or tend to livestock at the start of the rainy season, which began in Mali in June.
‘We returned without our wives’
An educator from the village of Bare Darsalam in the Bankass district, who asked to remain anonymous, returned after seven years away due to the conflict. He came back without his wife and children. He spoke about the conditions imposed by Jnim regarding public schools and dress codes:
“Our school was destroyed by armed terrorist groups when the village was displaced in 2019. They broke everything. Even if we were asked to rebuild the school immediately, we would not agree. We resumed our activities after guarantees from the mayor of Bankass. We have not yet started wearing short trousers. We also did not return with our wives, to see if we must wear the Islamic veil or something like that.”
Farming activities resume
According to Allaye Guindo, mayor of the urban commune of Bankass, the signing of agreements between village communities and armed groups has facilitated a significant return of displaced persons.
“Thanks to the signed agreements, people are returning to all abandoned localities. The 13 villages that are receiving their residents include two villages of Kani Bozon and one village from the rural commune of Dimbal. The rest are villages from the Bankass commune. It is raining now, and many returnees have started farming their fields in safety. Everyone is satisfied.”
The local agreements stipulate that customary authorities and community leaders must adapt to the rules set by the armed terrorist groups, which make the implementation of Islamic law—sharia—the cornerstone of their collaboration with villagers.
