"Ivory Coast has reinforced its border security after the arrival of several unusual flows of refugees from neighbouring Mali, officials in the West African country have said. Ivory Coast's National Security Council (NSC) said in a statement on Thursday that the influx appears to be due to attacks against civilians by armed terrorist groups in several areas of southern Mali."
"The National Security Council has instructed its Executive Secretary to take all necessary steps to register these asylum seekers, the statement said. Furthermore, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces has been instructed to take appropriate measures to strengthen security at our country's northern borders, it added. The al-Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) has waged an almost decade-long rebellion in Mali."
"The armed group, the most active in West Africa according to conflict monitor ACLED, was formed in 2017 as a result of a merger with al-Qaeda of the Islamic Maghreb, Ansar Dine, the Macina Liberation Front and al-Mourabitoun. JNIM's operations started in Mali, but they have since expanded to nearby countries of Burkina Faso, Niger, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Benin and Togo."
Ivory Coast reinforced border security and ordered registration of newly arrived Malian asylum seekers following unusual refugee flows. National authorities linked the influx to attacks on civilians by armed terrorist groups in several areas of southern Mali. The National Security Council directed the Executive Secretary to register asylum seekers and instructed the military to strengthen security along the northern border. The al-Qaeda-linked Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) formed in 2017 has waged a near-decade-long rebellion, expanded operations across multiple West African countries, killed thousands since 2017, seeks regime change in Mali, and has targeted highways and fuel tankers to pressure the military government.
Read at www.aljazeera.com
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