Malian authorities have announced the closure of several livestock markets in the capital Bamako, citing security concerns following a recent deadly attack by al-Qaida-linked militants. The decision, announced Thursday by Bamako district governor Abdoulaye Coulibaly, primarily affects markets run by the Fulani ethnic group, which officials associate with militant activity.
The closures come in the wake of Tuesday’s attack on a military training camp and the airport on Bamako’s outskirts, claimed by the al-Qaida-affiliated group JNIM. While Malian officials acknowledged government forces suffered losses, they have not released an official death toll.
Seven major livestock markets will be shuttered for “reasons of public order,” according to Coulibaly’s statement. The duration of these closures remains unspecified.
The Fulani, also known as Peuhl, are a large semi-nomadic ethnic group with communities spanning from Senegal to the Central African Republic. They have a significant presence in central Mali’s Islamic militant groups, leading to widespread stigmatization.
Rida Lyammouri, a senior fellow at the Policy Center for the New South, told The Associated Press that the Malian government perceives Fulanis as generally collaborating with jihadists and believes JNIM has infiltrated the capital with their assistance. However, Lyammouri cautioned against overgeneralization, noting that jihadist groups include members from various ethnic backgrounds.
Mali, along with neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger, has been battling an Islamist insurgency for over a decade. Recent military coups in these countries have led to the expulsion of French forces and increased reliance on Russian mercenary units for security support.
The attack in Bamako, typically rare for the capital, underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by Col. Assimi Goita’s military government as it struggles to contain the spread of jihadist violence across the country.
