Mali’s Dogon displaced return home after reaching local accords with armed groups

In Mali, thousands of displaced people have chosen to return to their homes in the Bankass circle, central Mali. This return became possible after local agreements were reached between village communities and Jnim (Group for Support of Islam and Muslims), an Al Qaeda affiliate.

Villagers can now reclaim their houses and fields, but at the cost of accepting conditions imposed by jihadist groups: mandatory veiling for women and a ban on Western-style education in schools.

School closures and compulsory veiling

These conditions cover dress codes and mandatory prayer rituals. Men are required to wear short trousers, the republican school system is shut down — which effectively bans Western education — and women must cover themselves with a veil.

In exchange, the villagers, mostly Fulani and Dogon, are now permitted to carry out farming and pastoral activities at the start of the rainy season, which began in Mali in June.

“We came back without our wives”

A teacher from Bare Darsalam, a village in the Bankass circle, who preferred to remain anonymous, returned after seven years away due to the conflict. He came back without his wife and children. He commented on the public school and dress code imposed by Jnim:

“Our school was destroyed by terrorist armed 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 have resumed our activities after the guarantees given by the mayor of Bankass. We have not yet started wearing short trousers. We also did not bring back our wives, to see if wearing the Islamic veil or something like that is required.”

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 significant return of displaced persons.

“Thanks to the signed accords, people are returning to all the abandoned localities. The 13 villages receiving their returnees include two villages of Kani Bozon, one village from the rural commune of Dimbal, and the rest are villages from the commune of Bankass. It is raining now, and many returnees have started cultivating their fields in complete safety. Everyone is satisfied.”

The local agreements stipulate that customary authorities and notables must adapt to the rules set by the terrorist armed groups, which make the application of Islamic law (sharia) the cornerstone of their collaboration with the villagers.