A decade escaping from Mali

Mali began to unravel in 2012 and a decade later the situation shows no sign of improving.

In this time, the conflict that devastates the territory has caused the displacement of 2.5 million people and 25,000 deaths, according to the UN Agency for Refugees (Acnur).

The first violent episodes began when various rebel and jihadist groups attacked Menaka, Tessalit and Aguelhok, three cities in the north of the country.

At that time, the troops of the European Union, arrived from the hand of France, were deployed to help the Malian army to combat the groups that threatened the territorial integrity and that were already at the gates of the capital, Bamako.

At first, the threat faded.

However, the intervention caused these sides to disperse and the conflict became a diffuse and latent war between jihadist factions, warlords dedicated to drug trafficking and armies from half the world trying to prevent the region from becoming a failed state.

The political situation worsened in 2020, when Colonel Assimi Goïta staged a coup that overthrew the president-elect.

The military man promised a new democratic government in the face of the doubts of the international community, whose suspicions were confirmed in 2021: Goïta repeated the military action, proclaimed himself president and expelled the civilian leaders who were working on the transition to an eventual democratic regime.

In early 2022, the coup military rulers announced that they will remain in power for another four years, instead of calling elections in February as planned.

The key stability for the control of migratory flows, the fight against jihadist terrorism and the smuggling of drugs and weapons

Since then, the Executive has been strengthening ties with Russia and China.

The Russian military advisers displaced the French troops, who decided to withdraw, at the same time that the total rupture between the governments of Bamako and Paris was taking place.

Meanwhile, suspicions are beginning to circulate that Colonel Goïta has requested help from the Wagner group to combat jihadism.

This is how a paid paramilitary organization of Russian origin financed by Yevgueni Prigozhin, a Russian oligarch very close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and on whom numerous accusations of war crimes weigh.

In fact, the UN is investigating a massacre of 300 civilians in the city of Moura allegedly perpetrated by the Malian army with the help of the Wagner group, which is also helping the dictator perpetuate himself in power.

This has caused Mali to suffer sanctions from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that go through the suspension of most trade, the limitation of financial aid and the closure of borders by land and air with the member countries of this block.

Mali is a country that is located in the Sahel region.

This area borders the North with the Sahara desert and to the south with the Sudanese savanna.

Its key stability for the control of migratory flows, the fight against jihadist terrorism and the smuggling of drugs and weapons.

The territory of the Sahel, which includes the African continent from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean, is considered by Europe as its first border and also that the security of the continent depends on the stability of this region.

Spain is the first stop in Europe for those who risk their lives at sea fleeing horror and violence in search of safety and a decent future.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of the Interior, in 2020, 1,537 people from Mali applied for asylum in our country.

It was the African nationality that registered the most asylum applications and only ten were from women.

Many are in reception programs such as the Red Cross, where they initially receive advice to regularize their situation.

Later, they complement the Spanish classes with courses and work practices to finish integrating into our society and have a dignified life away from violence.

These are the stories and faces of some of them:

Two years and six months after leaving Mali, Lassim arrived in Spain.

This 24-year-old worked in his country in a butcher shop and repairing electronic machines.

In Algeria he got a job in construction;

in Morocco, he devoted himself to livestock.

When asked what he would like to work in Spain, he quickly answers that as a waiter, to later ensure that he will do everything he can, because his dream is to fulfill himself in life. ROBERTO PALOMO

Baba, 32, worked selling coffee in a market in his city, in Mali.

He arrived in Tenerife about seven months ago and has already passed through Madrid and Badajoz within the Spanish reception system managed by the Red Cross.

A year and a half ago Mohamé arrived on the shores of Malaga.

He trained at the academy of the Stade Malien football team in Bamako until he was 16 years old and then worked in a supermarket until, at the age of 22, he decided to leave everything behind and fight to improve his life far from a country broken by violence.

He has been on a soccer team for three months and dreams of being a professional.

He is happy because the coach and his teammates treat him very well and help him a lot. ROBERTO PALOMO

Djibril fled his village, tired of the violence and aggression.

There he worked in everything he could: ranching, agriculture or looking for gold and diamonds in the waters of the river.

He came to Algeria through Niger, where he worked as a bricklayer and in the fields to save money and continue on his way.

In Morocco he saved the 2,500 euros that they asked him to get to Spain by doing construction and cleaning jobs.

Just over a year after reaching the Iberian Peninsula, he got his first job as an olive laborer in Jaén thanks to a friend.

Now, he waits in Lepe for the strawberry picking season to begin. ROBERTO PALOMO

Mamadú Sidibe decided to flee Mali when ethnic fighting flared up in his region.

Although he was able to finish his high school studies, he had no choice but to search for gold in the mines under very dangerous conditions.

He does not remember exactly when he arrived in Spain, but he does remember that his journey took him four hard months.

He is clear that what matters most to him now is being well and eating.

He believes that thinking about what the future holds will bring him bad luck. ROBERTO PALOMO

Haruna has been in Spain for a year and three months.

He arrived on the Canary Coasts, where he remained about three months.

He then spent two in Malaga, four in Mérida and five in Badajoz, until he obtained refugee status and obtained a work permit.

His luck changed completely when he received a phone call from a friend offering him a job in a milk factory in Catalonia.

He assures that he is happy to be able to help his family after having spent seven days between life and death crossing the sea. ROBERTO PALOMO

Adji is 21 years old and arrived in Las Palmas de Gran Canarias in April 2020. Before, he worked in the fields and went to school to learn French until the situation became untenable and he decided to leave in search of safety.

He dreams of having a better life.

He has recently started training in a soccer team, a great step to integrate into our society and a fact that can mark his future. ROBERTO PALOMO

Ousmane was dedicated to weaving clothes in Mali, but he makes it clear that he would like to work in anything that allows him to give his eight-year-old son a better life.

He arrived in Spain in 2020, when he was 27 years old, in search of protection, since his country ceased to be a safe place a long time ago.

He is now focused on learning Spanish and receives classes every day thanks to the support of the Red Cross. ROBERTO PALOMO

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