In Mali, several thousand displaced people have decided to go back to their villages in the Bankass circle, located in the central part of the country. This return was made possible after local agreements were signed between village communities and the Support Group for Islam and Muslims (Jnim), an Al-Qaeda affiliate.
Villagers can now reclaim their homes and farmland, but must accept conditions imposed by the jihadist groups. These include mandatory veiling for women and a ban on Western-style education in schools.
School closures and compulsory veiling
The agreements dictate dress codes and prayer rituals. Men are required to wear short trousers, secular schools are shut down, Western teaching methods are prohibited, and women must cover themselves with a veil.
In exchange, most of the villagers—predominantly Fulani and Dogon—are permitted to farm or graze livestock as the rainy season begins in Mali in June.
“We came back without our wives”
A teacher from Bare Darsalam village in the Bankass area, 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 public school and the dress code enforced by Jnim:
“Our school was destroyed by armed terrorist groups when we fled the village 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 haven’t started wearing short trousers yet. We also did not return with our wives, to see if we must wear the Islamic veil or something similar.”
Farming resumes
According to Allaye Guindo, mayor of the urban commune of Bankass, the signing of agreements between village communities and armed groups has facilitated a substantial return of displaced persons.
“Thanks to the signed agreements, people are coming back to all the abandoned localities. The 13 villages that are welcoming their residents include two villages of Kani Bozon, one village from the rural commune of Dimbal. All the rest are villages from the Bankass commune. It’s raining now, and many returnees have started cultivating their fields safely. Everyone is satisfied.”
The local pacts also state that customary authorities and notables must adapt to the rules set by armed terrorist groups, who make the application of Sharia law the cornerstone of their collaboration with the villagers.
