The Menaka region is an operational terrain for terrorists from al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and especially the Islamic State in the Great Sahara group.

As for the road connecting the city of Menaka to Ansongo on one side, and to the Niger border on the other, it is the scene of nearly daily acts of banditry. Shops attacked, livestock stolen, residents of Menaka have been complaining for many years about insecurity.

As part of actions initiated by the governor of the region, the 'Menaka without weapons' operation has united for a little over a month the Malian army and armed groups signatory to the 2015 peace agreement.

"The interior of the city of Menaka is entrusted first to Malian security forces, explains Moussa Ag Acharatoumane who heads one of these groups, the MSA, reached by David Baché of RFI's Africa service. They conduct patrols, day and night, in collaboration with the Barkhane force and Minusma. As for us, the armed movements: first we the Platform, we have completed a belt on the outside of the city of Menaka so that there is no road leading to Menaka that we do not control. After that, our brothers from the CMA joined us." In summary, "the interior of the city is controlled by Malian armed forces and their partners. And the exterior of the city is controlled by the signatory armed movements."

Since the end of September, around ten arrests are said to have been carried out. The initiators of this operation are asking the new transitional authorities to support their action so that it can be sustained over time.