Mali: thousands displaced face hardship after fleeing kouakourou

For two weeks, thousands of residents who fled Kouakourou in central Mali have been living in extremely precarious conditions. They were forced to abandon their homes following an ultimatum issued by fighters from the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM), an organization linked to Al-Qaeda. These displaced individuals are now striving to establish a semblance of daily life far from their original communities.

After jihadist forces seized the military camp in Kouakourou, they demanded the immediate departure of the entire population. Approximately 5,000 people subsequently left the town, seeking refuge in nearby villages, or traveling further to Djenné, Bamako, and Mopti. In Mopti, local authorities have temporarily housed over 400 displaced persons within a school facility.

While food aid is being distributed, facilitated by generous donors and the municipal government, the reception conditions remain challenging. Classrooms have been converted into makeshift dormitories, and a lack of sufficient indoor space means some families are forced to spend their nights in the schoolyard. Recent heavy rains have further exacerbated their plight, compelling all displaced individuals to huddle indoors.

Beyond the tangible hardships, these families express profound distress over the forced abandonment of their homes and possessions. Numerous residents reported fleeing Kouakourou with only the clothes on their backs, stating that their mobile phones were confiscated by the jihadist group.

This mass displacement coincides with the critical agricultural season, severely jeopardizing harvests and the primary livelihoods of many families. For these displaced Malians, returning to Kouakourou remains their strongest desire, though the prevailing security situation currently makes a short-term return impossible.