Terrorists Spare No One: A Donso Leader’s Stark Warning on the Perils of Local Agreements in Mali
In a powerful New Year’s address for 2026, Youssouf Toloba, the Chief of Staff and General of the Dana Ambassagou movement, delivered a sobering analysis of Mali’s security crisis. His roughly twenty-minute video, widely circulated on social media, extended wishes to the Malian population and the authorities of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) before launching into an uncompromising critique of the nation’s counter-terrorism strategy. The speech provides a rare, unfiltered perspective from the front lines of a complex conflict, challenging conventional approaches to peace and security.
The Core Argument: Local Agreements as a Betrayal and a False Solution
Adopting a harsh and unequivocal tone, General Toloba categorically rejected any form of agreement with terrorist groups, labeling them a betrayal of the nation. His central thesis is that these local pacts, often brokered between communities and jihadist factions for temporary calm, are not a lasting solution to insecurity. Instead, he argues they are a dangerous gambit that ultimately strengthens terrorist networks by granting them legitimacy, resources, and time to consolidate power.
“I forgive everyone, except those whose mission is to secure the nation but who ended up betraying that very nation. This betrayal persists to this day and it is through the support of local agreements,” Toloba declared. This statement frames the issue not merely as a tactical disagreement but as a profound moral failing within the security apparatus itself.
The Evidence: Agreements That Fail to Protect
Toloba moved beyond rhetoric to present tangible evidence of his claims. He pointed to the localities of Ségué and Diallassagou, which suffered devastating attacks despite having signed local agreements with armed groups. “Let people know this. Terrorists spare no one, not even the signatories of the agreements,” he warned. This highlights a critical flaw in the agreement model: they are often non-binding for the terrorist side and can be broken at will, leaving communities vulnerable and disillusioned.
Denouncing Internal Complicity and Calling for Unity
A significant portion of Toloba’s address targeted what he sees as internal collusion. He accused certain uniformed security officials of making pacts with terrorists to ensure their own personal safety—a practice he deems unacceptable and one that traditional Donso hunters would never condone.
He also issued a direct plea for operational cohesion: “Let the FAMa stop attacking the hunters. Mayors who are accomplices of terrorists must repent.” This call underscores the fragmented and sometimes counterproductive dynamics on the ground, where pro-government militias, state forces, and local authorities are not always aligned, creating security gaps that terrorists exploit.
The Role of Information and the Donso Ethos
Toloba positioned the Dana Ambassagou movement as an indispensable, if unofficial, arm of the national defense. He ordered his hunters to continue providing intelligence to the Malian Armed Forces (FAMa), stating, “the donsos cannot stand by while Malians fight our country, our populations, without doing anything.” This emphasizes the movement’s self-perception as a guardian of the nation, operating from a deep cultural and territorial knowledge that formal military structures often lack.
Reframing the Conflict: Beyond “Inter-Communal” Violence
Challenging narratives that reduce the violence to inter-communal conflict, Toloba posed pointed questions: “Those who said it was an inter-communal conflict, what will they say about the fuel fires? What did they say about those who attack tankers?” By referencing attacks on economic infrastructure like fuel convoys, he reframes the issue as a coordinated campaign of terrorism and economic warfare, aimed at destabilizing the state and controlling resources, rather than spontaneous communal clashes.
A Pledge and a Plea for 2026
Concluding his address, Toloba announced new, unspecified measures for the coming year in the fight against terrorism and reiterated his movement’s determination to pursue terrorists to their last strongholds. However, this resolve was coupled with a critical plea: “We are determined in the fight against terrorism. We just need the support and consideration from the authorities.” This final statement encapsulates the central tension—a powerful non-state actor demanding formal recognition and integration into a cohesive national strategy, while rejecting the state’s current policy of localized negotiations.
Toloba’s speech is more than a seasonal message; it is a strategic manifesto and a stark warning. It challenges the international community and Malian authorities to reconsider the long-term consequences of local deals with terrorist groups and calls for a unified, principled, and militarily resolute approach to a conflict that shows no signs of abating.