Africa-Press. Military authorities in Mali have announced the establishment of “military significance areas” that are off-limits to civilians across the country, under a ministerial decree, as part of their ongoing efforts to combat armed groups and enhance security.
According to an official document signed by six Malian ministers, including the minister of defense, all individuals found within these areas will be treated as military targets. The new measures cover approximately 40 areas, mostly forests suspected of being used by armed groups as hideouts and bases.
The authorities clarified that a new defensive system will soon be activated within these areas, which extend from northern Mali to southern Mali and from eastern to western Mali, as part of a security strategy aimed at tightening the grip on armed groups operating in several regions of the country.
Among the key areas included in the decision is the Wagadu forest near the border with Mauritania, which is considered one of the main strongholds of armed groups. The forest spans a vast area of about 80 kilometers in length and 40 kilometers in width, making monitoring and securing it a significant field challenge.
Observers believe that managing the security situation in this area will be a sensitive issue, especially given the repeated accusations from Bamako against armed elements crossing from Mauritanian territory into Mali, accusations that the authorities in Nouakchott categorically deny.
Security experts also indicate that the success of military operations in the Wagadu forest may require a higher level of security and military coordination between Mali and Mauritania, due to the border nature of the area and the difficulty of controlling it independently.
