Thousands of displaced Dogon people are now making their way back to their home communities within the Bankass circle, located in central Mali. This significant return has been facilitated by recently forged local agreements between various village communities and the Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (Jnim), an organization with ties to Al Qaïda.

While villagers are regaining access to their homes and agricultural lands, these returns come with stringent conditions imposed by the jihadist groups. These rules include mandatory veiling for women and a prohibition on Western-style education in local schools.

School closures and dress codes enforced

The conditions extend to strict dress codes and prescribed prayer rituals. Men, for instance, are now required to wear short trousers. Furthermore, all state-run schools have been ordered to close, effectively banning any form of Western teaching, while women must strictly adhere to the Islamic veil.

In exchange for these concessions, the predominantly Peul and Dogon villagers are permitted to resume their vital farming and pastoral activities, a crucial development as the rainy season commenced in Mali this June.

“We returned without our wives”

An educator from Bare Darsalam village, also in the Bankass circle, who wishes to remain anonymous, has returned after a seven-year displacement caused by the ongoing conflict. He made the journey back without his wife and children.

Speaking on the state of public schooling and the dress code mandated by Jnim, he explained: « Our school was destroyed by armed terrorist 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 guarantees were provided by the mayor of Bankass. We haven’t started wearing short trousers yet. We also haven’t returned with our wives, to determine if the Islamic veil or something similar is truly mandatory. »

Agricultural activities resume

According to Allaye Guindo, the mayor of the urban commune of Bankass, the signing of these agreements between village communities and the armed groups has encouraged a significant influx of displaced individuals returning home.

« Thanks to the signed agreements, people are returning to all the abandoned localities. The 13 villages welcoming their residents back include two villages from Kani Bozon, one village from the rural commune of Dimbal. All the others are villages within the Bankass commune. It is currently raining, and many returnees have safely begun cultivating their fields. Everyone is satisfied. »

The terms of these local agreements explicitly state that customary authorities and local notables must comply with the rules set by the armed terrorist groups. The enforcement of Islamic law, Sharia, forms the cornerstone of their collaboration with the villagers.