Salesian Missions: "We are living with serenity the events after the military uprising in Mali"

"We're all fine. We are living with serenity the development of the events in the country. In Bamako, as well as in Sikasso and Touba, we are calm", explains one of the Salesian missionaries working in Bamako. "All activities stopped yesterday morning after the military uprising", he adds. 

"Many people took to the streets in the city in the first moments to support the military. But in the afternoon, a curfew was instituted from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m.," the Salesians explain. "Today, the missionaries tell us, Bamako is a ghost town. There are no people in the streets. The schools are closed, the shops, the banks, the Administration... everything is stopped after the long day of yesterday", explains Ana Muñoz, spokesperson of MISIONES SALESIANAS.

After the uprising and the closure of the borders imposed by ECOWAS, "what we fear most are the consequences of this closure," explain the missionaries. "The borders closed by Covid19 have just been opened and now we are worried about the increase in the prices of basic products and fuel," they add from Mali.

Mali has been experiencing great insecurity for years due to the attacks by jihadist groups, especially in the north of the country, and to this must be added the political tension of recent months. "Part of the population was calling for President Keita's resignation and there were already serious clashes at the beginning of July with riots in which at least 10 people lost their lives," Muñoz adds.

The Salesian missionaries have been working in the country since 1982, supporting the most vulnerable young people. Today, we have professional training schools and secondary schools in Bamako, Sikasso and Touba.

From SALESIAN MISSIONS we ask for dialogue with all parties so that there are no serious disturbances leading to unnecessary bloodshed and we wish to see everything return to normal and constitutional order as soon as possible.