Four months after their operationalization, the mixed patrols regrouping the armed forces and the signatory groups of the peace agreement delay to positively impact the security situation of the Gao region. On the contrary, between the abduction of the vehicles of the MOC itself and the involvement of its members in the robberies of motorcyclists, the operational mechanism doesn’t reassure anymore.
« If we hear about the MOC, it means they have stolen somewhere », says Issa Boncana Maïga, vice-president of the Regional Youth Council. In Gao, a new vehicle of the Operational Coordination Mechanism (MOC) was abducted Monday night, according to several local sources. The author is close to the Platform, but would not be from the MOC. He took the vehicle with the real driver (MOC member) to run an errand at the regional hospital, but he will change course to disappear with the vehicle.
This kind of scenario has happened at least four times in the city of Gao since the establishment of this mechanism of the peace agreement last January. The situation is increasingly sowing doubt among the inhabitants. « I wonder who these men are to whom we gave vehicles and weapons to ensure our safety », asks Abdourahamane Maïga, a resident of the Ajannabandja neighborhood, reached by Sahelien.com. Issa Boncana Maïga presses in: « They are in a camp here, piled up and do nothing at all. Except to go to circle the Regional Council » where the president of the interim authority is.
In the city, we quickly forgot the beautiful images announcing, a few months ago, the start of the mixed patrols. Because on the ground, the situation is very dramatic with the multiplication of motorcycle robberies often involving even the MOC fighters. They had been announced as the guarantor of security throughout the region and again as the face of the future army in northern Mali. « I think there were a lot of failures. It has been proven several times that it is the MOC agents who have committed most of the abductions of vehicles and motorcycles in the city », laments Mr. Maïga. Charges based on facts because in early May, two people were killed in a robbery attempt involving combatants from the operational mechanism. Shortly before, two other members were molested by the youth, still in an attempt to steal.
Within the mechanism, they try to defend themselves. « These fighters do not yet have all the reflexes of a real military », slips a senior officer. In April, « disciplinary » and « restrictive » measures, including a military police, were put in place by the chiefs. But there too, doubt hangs over their effectiveness. « They (the fighters, ed.) obey their movement more than the rules of the MOC. This makes things much more complicated », adds the same source. Noting that people tend to accuse fighters of all acts of banditry in the city.
Aboubacar Dicko