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00:00This is the home of the Dogon, an ethnic group indigenous to eastern Mali.
00:15Steep cliffs dominate the landscape.
00:18Villages were carved out of the rock here in the 15th century.
00:22A decade ago, this area was the top tourist destination in Mali,
00:26but ever since 2016, jihadists have wielded control in the region.
00:31This area is now the most dangerous in the country.
00:35Neither the Mali nor French military has a presence here.
00:38Armed men at security checkpoints like this are a rare sight.
00:44This is for our protection because there's no army here.
00:48Our driver, Maudibor, knows his way around the area.
00:52He used to drive tourists here.
00:53How's your family?
00:56All as well, thanks.
00:57Thank God.
00:59These civilians patrol the entrance to the Dogon territory.
01:03We've passed several checkpoints along the way.
01:10Jihadists are constantly trying to infiltrate the area, so every vehicle is searched.
01:17Only local residents are allowed to pass through.
01:23We're now in Songho.
01:33There's a training camp for hunters here.
01:35They're training right now, here.
01:39These men are dressed in the traditional uniform of the Dozo,
01:43a secretive brotherhood of initiated hunters and warriors.
01:47Armed with knives and old hunting rifles, the men are highly respected in the area.
01:54They wear amulets believed to have magical powers that make them invisible and even bulletproof.
02:00The Dozo have formed a militia.
02:16Many in the village have joined the Dozo to fight the jihadists.
02:24The Dozo are part of the most powerful militia in the region, Danambasagu, with about a thousand soldiers.
02:39Their leader is Yusuf Toloba.
02:42He doesn't often show his face.
02:44Fearing assassination, he seeks safety in the rocky cliffs.
02:47Commander Matour takes us to him.
02:52We're headed to Kasa.
02:54You'll see where we were attacked.
02:55There are many jihadists there.
02:57Okay.
02:58Have a good trip.
03:01Thanks.
03:02Matour and his men regularly patrol the cliffs.
03:06This is the last stronghold against the jihadists and must be defended at all costs.
03:11The jihadists burned down the villages.
03:17More than 12 were destroyed.
03:20They stole money and killed many people.
03:22Then they burned down all the houses, the storage facilities.
03:26They took all the animals.
03:31Although their homes are just 20 kilometers away, Matour and his men only see their families three times a year.
03:38We don't stay in the city.
03:43We can last a long time out here.
03:45Three, four months.
03:47We don't even return to the village for a day.
03:51Matour is 25 years old.
03:53Ten years ago, he dropped out of school to join the dozo and fight.
03:59Three-minute break.
04:02These men are between 25 and 60 years old.
04:05They used to lead peaceful lives as farmers and herders.
04:09Then the jihadists came.
04:14We do this because it's our only option.
04:16They destroyed our country.
04:18I'm a herder.
04:20The jihadists took all our animals.
04:22We have nothing left.
04:23I was a student in Quran school.
04:25They drove us out and burned all the Qurans.
04:28There's no mosque anymore.
04:29They took all the prayer rugs.
04:31They even took our burial mats.
04:33But we're still here, so they haven't destroyed everything.
04:35The state doesn't understand what's going on here.
04:39Is that normal?
04:41Are we not part of this nation?
04:43We, the land of the Dogon?
04:44Of course we are.
04:47We're at war.
04:48No matter what happens, we're in this until the end.
04:52We were granted special access to spend a few days with these men.
04:57They'll do everything they can to defend the land of the Dogon,
05:00this small territory in the Sahel.
05:02The Sahel region stretches across Africa, from the savannah to the desert,
05:11home to both farmers and nomadic herders.
05:14The region spans eight countries, all plagued by terrorism, especially prevalent in Mali.
05:27Under the banner of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, a coalition of jihadist groups came together in 2017.
05:34With its growing influence in the heart of Mali, the group wants to impose Sharia law.
05:41And the Malian army is ill-equipped to stop them.
05:45Known for its corruption and indiscipline, the military is failing to hold the jihadists' advance,
05:51despite the thousands of French soldiers who have been providing support and training in the Sahel for a decade.
05:57Repeated coups have weakened the Malian government and left large parts of the country neglected.
06:10The Dogon have formed self-defense groups.
06:12But without the presence of state authorities, old tensions between farmers and herders are resurfacing.
06:24When animals are left to roam, disputes often erupt over grazing areas.
06:29There's constant conflict.
06:30The jihadists exploit these tensions to attract new recruits.
06:36We spoke with four people who regretted signing up.
06:39Everything you do requires their approval.
06:42You have to do things you don't want to do.
06:44They forcefully indoctrinate you.
06:48The only country in the Sahel to successfully hold back the jihadists is Mauritania.
06:54The nation's military is hunting jihadists down, both on the ground and in the air,
07:01with the help of counterinsurgency aircraft.
07:05Don't let the fourth one escape.
07:08Don't worry, I won't.
07:13Mauritania's using traditional methods as well.
07:16Soldiers on camels gathering intel in the desert.
07:19A journey through the Sahel, which has become home to international jihadists.
07:32In Mali, 60% of jihadist attacks are carried out in the center of the country.
07:40Jihadists have surrounded the Dogon territory, but the cliffs form a natural barrier.
07:45They prevent the jihadists from reaching the plateau and the big cities.
07:59In the cliffs, the Dhanam Basagu is the only militia mounting a resistance.
08:08Commander Mato and his men are fighting in a hostile environment.
08:11Temperatures can reach 45 degrees Celsius in the shade.
08:18The vegetation is sparse, as is the food supply.
08:25It's not yet ripe.
08:26In wintertime, we don't have anything else to eat.
08:32The Dozo rely on support from villagers who climb the steep cliffs to deliver supplies.
08:38Bashir is one of them.
08:41Glory.
08:43Respect.
08:44Glory to you.
08:46They touch their hands to the ground in greeting.
08:49A sign of utmost respect.
08:53Bashir brings the hunters food.
08:56He returned to his home region a year ago to support the fighters.
08:59We need water.
09:04We need water.
09:09Give them water.
09:13Here's the water, chief.
09:17We haven't eaten anything since yesterday.
09:20We haven't found anything since dinner yesterday.
09:23We're hungry.
09:25We're going to change that.
09:26Yes.
09:27We'll feed you.
09:28I'm counting on you.
09:31But before they sit down to eat,
09:38Commander Matur stations guards around the camp.
09:44Come over here.
09:46Yes. There are many jihadists there.
09:50Some 30 jihadist units operate on the plains below.
09:54The closest one is only a kilometre away.
09:58From this vantage point, we're able to see when they climb up,
10:03even without binoculars.
10:05That's why we're here.
10:10We'll clean the rifles.
10:13Are these army rifles?
10:15No, we found them with the jihadists.
10:17We shot at them. They died and we took their weapons.
10:21The Dozo receive no aid from the Malian government
10:25or from international troops.
10:27Yes, operational commander. What's your location?
10:31Whenever he reaches a crest in the mountain,
10:33Matur calls Toloba, the leader of the militia,
10:36for further instruction.
10:40Yes, the first camp. Yes.
10:42Okay. Thank you very much.
10:44Thank you very much.
10:47Okay, let's eat now.
10:57Here, meal time is holy.
11:00The men eat their food in silence,
11:02without putting down their weapons.
11:05Thank you very much. Let's go.
11:15About 50 units like this one patrol the cliffs.
11:20One of them is Toloba's.
11:23This war leader stays constantly on the move because he's the jihadist's main target.
11:30He avoids media attention, but with the urging of an intermediary, he finally agreed to talk to us.
11:37Tell him that you're the only reason I came this morning. I had no intention of coming. I don't even meet with people from my village. You can ask them.
11:52They see me when I pass by, but that's it.
11:54They see me when I pass by.
11:59Toloba left the Malian army 25 years ago to fight the Tuareg rebellion in northern Mali.
12:07When the jihadists started gaining ground, he returned to the Dogon territory in 2016 and founded the Danambasagu militia.
12:16All the hunters you see here are Malians. There aren't any foreigners.
12:25The government doesn't give us weapons. We're in our caves and when jihadists come by, we kill them and take their weapons.
12:33The army doesn't help us. France doesn't help us. No one helps us.
12:39But the locals are on our side.
12:41To this day, Toloba and his hunters have managed to maintain control of the cliffs.
12:50But the jihadists have carried out several devastating raids over the years.
12:56Since 2016, twelve villagers have been pillaged in the commune, Casa.
13:06They burned down everything.
13:07The moment they got here, they gathered all they could and burned it.
13:12See?
13:14What did they burn?
13:16Kitchen utensils and motorcycles over there.
13:19They took the animals.
13:23The jihadists gave the villagers a cruel ultimatum.
13:27Either comply and pay the Islamic tax.
13:30Or watch their homes be pillaged.
13:33That was all destroyed and then rebuilt.
13:36There was millet. Everything was decimated.
13:39Musa Toloz, the deputy mayor of Casa.
13:43He's helping residents rebuild.
13:45There was millet and onion planted here.
13:50Everything was destroyed.
13:51They stole everything they could and burned the rest.
14:01The jihadists want to destroy everything that's at odds with their fundamentalist interpretation of Islam.
14:08In 2012, they destroyed mausoleums and tombstones of Muslim saints in Timbuktu, World Heritage Sites.
14:18They also smashed tribal art, including these statuettes.
14:23There are countless such treasures in Mali.
14:27Many here believe that natural objects have souls.
14:33The cliff is the last line of defense against the jihadists.
14:38There are only a few routes that lead to the plateau.
14:41Mato and his men risk their lives defending it.
14:55You see this? Packaging of the ammunition.
14:58And they were eating cookies.
15:00Jihadists tried to enter this way five months ago.
15:04They ate here. And they attacked us.
15:06You were up there?
15:09Yes, we were up there and they were below.
15:12How many?
15:14About 100.
15:16We had about 24 men.
15:17At dusk, the dozo climbed to the summit to watch for jihadists who might try to enter through this access point.
15:34This is where Mato's unit was stationed. The attack stretched on for six hours.
15:49Our team was here, yes.
15:54They ran and came with a rocket launcher and many other weapons and ammunition.
16:01They have more resources than we do.
16:06Anyone from your side injured?
16:10There were casualties.
16:12There were?
16:13Yes, injuries and deaths.
16:15Really? Yes.
16:16Mato lost seven men during the attack.
16:20But we would never surrender.
16:23Even if we have to sacrifice our lives, we'll do it together because this is our home, our territory.
16:30The land of the Dogon.
16:32If we had to leave our land, where would we go?
16:35The military isn't coming.
16:36What else can we do?
16:38There's no other choice.
16:40We're exhausted, but we're not backing down.
16:43I've never backed down since the day I was born.
16:48That's why they call me Mato.
16:50That means hammer.
16:51The little hammer hits the big stone.
16:54The dozer set up camp.
17:08They have to be especially careful at night to avoid being seen.
17:13The villager Bashir is back with dinner.
17:15The stove needs to go here so you can't see the fire from any distance.
17:23Light is forbidden at night.
17:25If we want to smoke, we have to hide, like this.
17:29I've got to hurry.
17:34I've got to hurry.
17:45You see that?
17:49That's how they sleep.
17:51Right on top of the boulders.
17:53Always.
17:55Weapon in hand.
18:04We arrive in Casa.
18:16The main town here continues to be a target for jihadist raids.
18:23As is customary, the dozer must remove their hunting clothes and magical amulets before entering.
18:35For more than a year, children in Casa haven't been able to attend school.
18:40Teachers fled after the last attack.
18:44The classrooms are used as temporary housing for the hunters.
18:53Mato's meeting with Musatolo, the deputy mayor.
18:56Hi.
18:58Hello.
18:59How are you?
19:00How's everyone?
19:01All good?
19:02No issues?
19:03Everyone's fine.
19:07God bless you.
19:08You're our sole protectors.
19:09You're the guardians of the fatherland.
19:13The jihadists have tried to attack Casa six times.
19:17Thanks to Mato and the dozer, they haven't been successful.
19:21Does the government not listen to you?
19:23Don't they know what's happening?
19:25The government knows what's happening, but they're afraid to come here because the area is overrun with jihadists.
19:35They're scared.
19:36Even the mayor's not here.
19:38He stays in Koro.
19:44Musatolo is the only government official here who has not deserted his post.
19:48When his superiors fled, he turned to the traditional spiritual leader, Hogan.
19:57To discuss the community's economic and security problems.
20:03They took all the grazing livestock.
20:08What do they do with the animals they steal?
20:10I have no clue what they do.
20:11They probably eat them after they've stolen them, or sell them.
20:25As farmers, our fortune lies in our oxen, goats and sheep.
20:29We have nothing more.
20:30We have nothing more.
20:35An ox costs six times the monthly wage of the average Malian.
20:44With 68 million cattle, Mali supplies most of the beef in the region exporting to Senegal, Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso.
20:52But the conflict has destabilized this important economic pillar.
21:03And it's made it harder to source nutritious food.
21:07The 25,000 people who live in Dogon's largest town, Bandiagara, have been especially devastated by the scarcity of meat.
21:17Butchers at the market don't have much to do.
21:19The meat shortage has driven up prices 25% in three years.
21:26That's 3,000 CFA francs.
21:293,000 francs.
21:31A kilo of red meat costs 3,000 CFA now.
21:35That's the equivalent of 4 euro 60 cents per kilogram.
21:40Two days pay here.
21:42With all the hardships facing locals, butchers are barely making a profit.
21:45We used to make a lot of money.
21:50Now we don't earn anything.
21:52We don't want to stop working.
21:54That's the way it is right now.
21:56Half of the butcher shops in the market have shut down.
22:01But Amadou Traoré keeps going.
22:03His father, Kamya, is the president of the Butcher's Guild.
22:10It's a family business passed down from father to son since 1942.
22:16But they've never experienced a crisis like this.
22:20Before the war, Amadou bought about 20 cattle a week.
22:23He's been looking to buy cattle for five days now.
22:27And he's finally found one for sale.
22:32How much for that one there?
22:37390,000.
22:38Could you go down a bit?
22:40385,000 is the minimum.
22:44A bit lower.
22:45I'll do it for 300,000.
22:49315,000.
22:55325,000, okay?
22:57380,000.
22:59The trader isn't budging.
23:01He already took on a considerable risk by buying the cattle.
23:04He can't afford to sell the animals for a low price.
23:07It was also very expensive at where we bought them.
23:10If you don't buy them, someone else will.
23:12The journey is difficult and risky.
23:15Risky?
23:17It's extremely risky.
23:19There are many dangers along the way.
23:21But we go out searching for cattle anyway.
23:23There aren't many animals left that are impossible to find.
23:26We only find single cattle now.
23:28The other day I drove over 26 kilometers and only found these here.
23:34The conflict has to end.
23:36That's the only way?
23:38It's the only way.
23:40We just want peace.
23:41Everyone must come to the table and negotiate peacefully.
23:45Then things can go back to the way they were.
23:47If Amadou Traoré can no longer afford to purchase cattle,
23:53he might have to close up shop.
23:55He's part of the Fulani ethnic group.
23:57Traditionally nomadic herders,
23:59they're facing increasing harassment by farmers, jihadists and the military.
24:02Most Fulani are semi-nomadic.
24:05In the dry season they migrate with their herds to southern pastures.
24:11But ever since the war broke out, the state stopped managing the traditional migration routes.
24:17As a result, the cattle are wiping out crops, igniting conflict between farmers and herders.
24:23When animals are left to roam, disputes often erupt over the grazing areas.
24:29There's constant conflict.
24:31For some time now, the administration has been putting the Fulani under a great deal of pressure.
24:36They take you away and lock you up.
24:39Herders hate being confined.
24:41A herder would pay a million to avoid it.
24:48Malian judges are often corrupt and order herders to pay astronomical fines.
24:54As resentment started to build,
24:57a Fulani man saw an opportunity to recruit his people as jihadists.
25:01His name, Amadou Kufa.
25:04He called his group Katibat Messina,
25:07referring to the golden age in the 19th century,
25:11when the Fulani and the Messina empire ruled central Mali.
25:18I'd like to thank God for allowing me to live to see the day
25:21when thousands of Fulani join the jihadists to fight on this divine path to martyrdom.
25:26Amadou Kufa started out as a preacher in the 1990s.
25:37At the time, audio tapes of his sermons were popular among the Fulani.
25:46A fresh stream of recruits allowed Amadou Kufa's group to expand its influence in central Mali.
25:52The town of Mupti lies at the junction of the Niger and Bani rivers.
25:59It's a strategic place of trade between northern and southern Mali.
26:05Since 2019, the river separates Mupti from jihadist-controlled areas.
26:11Trade between the two sides continues,
26:14although Sharia law is in full force on the other side.
26:16Now, when women cross the river, they must wear a black hijab.
26:23They face beatings.
26:25The punishment for stealing is losing a hand or a foot.
26:27Four former jihadists who used to live across the river agreed to meet with us.
26:42All four are Fulani and say they joined the jihadists because they were persecuted.
26:47This former herder says his village was invaded by the Malian army and attacked by Dozo hunters.
26:53They say that all Fulani are jihadists, but that's not true.
27:00They attack our villages, killing women, small children,
27:03two- or three-year-olds who can't defend themselves,
27:06and even old women who can't use a gun.
27:08For any of your relatives killed?
27:14Yes.
27:16Those who sign up to fight must acquire their own weapon and motorcycle.
27:23Some spend up to 1,800 euros on gear.
27:27They force you to hold your hands like this while praying.
27:31Were you asked to convert to Salafism?
27:32Yes.
27:33I myself and Maliki.
27:35They wanted me to convert, but I refused.
27:39So I left the group.
27:41Malikism has been practiced here for centuries.
27:45Unlike Salafism, it advocates a tolerant reading of the Koran.
27:49Salafism was brought to Mali in the 1980s by preachers from the Gulf nations.
27:53These four men were disappointed the jihadist life wasn't what they'd envisioned,
27:59so they returned home to live alongside their former neighbors of various ethnicities.
28:05When I returned home, the Dogon were initially scared of me.
28:11But after some time, my neighbors were no longer afraid.
28:13They now look at me as if I did nothing wrong.
28:19They've gotten used to me.
28:25The Fulani and the Dogon will always need each other.
28:29To cultivate the fields, to build houses, to dig wells.
28:33That's what the Dogon do best.
28:35Livestock farming is the Fulani's expertise.
28:37Hundreds of thousands of Fulani have left central Mali due to persecution, especially by Malian soldiers.
28:50Some have found refuge in neighboring countries.
28:53Including in Mauritania, the most stable state in the Sahel.
28:58Some 67,000 people live in the Mbera refugee camp.
29:02Most of them are Tuareg, who fled jihadists in northern Mali in 2012.
29:07The newest arrivals, however, are all Fulani.
29:11Like Chief Berghiso, a year ago he fled his village after being threatened by a Malian soldier.
29:22The soldier said to me,
29:24I swear to you, I will not say it twice.
29:27I heard the Fulani are killing us, jihadists are killing us.
29:30So we are going to kill all the Fulani.
29:33I called someone at the judicial district.
29:35He told us to stay home and no one would hurt us.
29:42But no officials took his calls for help seriously.
29:49The military returned to the village the next Friday.
29:52First, they surrounded us.
29:54That was between 1 and 2 pm.
29:57Then they invaded the village.
30:00They attacked everyone there.
30:02They went into the rooms and dragged sick people out of their homes.
30:07They killed seven people.
30:08They killed seven people.
30:13The Fulani were terrified.
30:15Berghi helped send 1,000 families to Mauritania.
30:19People live in peace here.
30:22I thank God for that.
30:24Right now, I wouldn't even go back if they chartered a plane.
30:28We'll never forget what they did to us.
30:30They murdered people.
30:32They murdered people.
30:38Berghi and his fellow villagers will not go back to Mali without a guarantee of safety.
30:44In Mauritania, refugees receive food from the United Nations.
30:49They can lead some semblance of a normal life.
30:51They're allowed to farm land, raise their animals, and even go to school.
31:01Caring for the population in order to win them over as part of the Mauritanian government strategy.
31:10After a dozen jihadist attacks, Mauritania massively restructured its military.
31:16It's now considered the most professional in the region.
31:19One of Mauritania's main airbases is in Attar, at the edge of the Sahara Desert.
31:29The planes parked on the tarmac seem to be from another age, like this antique from the 1950s.
31:36All these Brazilian-produced fighter planes.
31:40They may look rudimentary, but they're perfectly suited for the war here.
31:44Colonel Taleb leads this squadron.
31:49This is the Super Tucano.
31:52This aircraft doubles our range and is powerful.
31:56We're also able to attach different types of weapons to it.
31:59We have two built-in 12.7s, as well as electric machine guns and rocket launchers.
32:05We can use 70mm rockets.
32:07That's for vehicles?
32:09Yes, that's for vehicles.
32:11What weapon we choose often depends on the target.
32:14One advantage to these fighter planes is they're agile and able to land on uneven runways in the middle of the desert.
32:27But first, the air force has to pinpoint the enemy's location.
32:32That's where this reconnaissance aircraft comes in.
32:35This Cessna caravan is constantly monitoring the 2,000-kilometer border Mauritania shares with Mali.
32:49A total of 450,000 kilometers of desert.
33:00Lieutenant Yusuf operates the sensors.
33:03He controls the high-resolution cameras with a range of up to 20 kilometers.
33:10The Mali border is lined with terrorists, Al-Qaeda.
33:14There are smugglers of every kind, for drugs, weapons, gold, all kinds of things.
33:19In their eyes, jihadists and black market traders are closely linked.
33:29The country among the poorest in the world has spared no expense here.
33:33Each surveillance system costs 1 million US dollars, and makes it possible to search the ground in all conditions.
33:40It's foggy on the ground. We use infrared in situations like this.
33:44That's based on temperature, not visibility.
33:50With the help of the heat sensors, Lieutenant Yusuf can see the imprint of the vehicles in the sand,
33:56even several hours after they've traveled a given route.
33:59Check that out. Those are tracks from cars.
34:03That's impossible to see with the naked eye. That shows there's activity. Look.
34:07The desert is not as empty as it seems.
34:11Nomads pitch their tents here, and gold panners mine gold, which is abundant in the region.
34:18This is one of the trucks that's used for transporting supplies.
34:23When he spots weapons, Lieutenant Yusuf alerts the command.
34:27High-ranking officers order the raids.
34:29Over the past three years, Colonel Taleb and the pilots at the Atar base have intercepted 25 pickup trucks from smugglers or jihadists.
34:43We obtained exclusive footage from a mission in January 2019.
34:47Found them.
34:48Okay, aim for the last one before they can see you. Zero in on the last one and strike.
34:56On this day, the Mauritanian army destroy four jihadist trucks.
35:02Hold on. I'll shoot the fourth one.
35:07I'll shoot the fourth one.
35:09Don't let it escape.
35:11Don't worry. I won't.
35:22Mauritania's ground troops have also been restructured.
35:25In 2009, the state formed a special intervention group, units specializing in counter-terrorism.
35:37Eight units of 200 men each guard the border with Mali.
35:42Attention.
35:47Are you ready to fight?
35:52To your posts.
35:58This platoon of 80 soldiers sets out on a three-day patrol.
36:03Their trucks are fitted with heavy machine guns.
36:06They cover 18,000 square kilometers.
36:09The off-road vehicles cover as much ground as possible, stopping every 500 meters.
36:20Every bush could be a potential hiding place for the enemy.
36:28Move, move, move. Give your comrade the signal to follow you.
36:33Tell him to weave between the trees and move fast.
36:40To fight the jihadists, the army also relies on human intelligence.
36:49The herders are constantly crossing the savannah, a valuable source of information.
36:54Seen anyone new?
36:55No one.
36:56All well with you?
36:58Yes, thank God.
37:00Thank God. Okay, you're free to go.
37:02Jihadists would not go unnoticed by the nomads.
37:08To gain their trust, the military brings them medicine every month.
37:12When the military comes to a village, this is how they're greeted.
37:19They're given a warm welcome of brotherhood, friendship and love.
37:26Over the past 12 years, the Special Intervention Group's presence has radically changed life for many residents, including this catalona.
37:42Ever since the army arrived, the animal theft has stopped. Nothing more has been stolen, not even a rooster, and we can sleep at night now. Look, our cows can roam as they please. No more theft.
37:54The Mauritanian government doesn't just focus on security. They also want to avoid what's happened in Mali, where many residents feel left behind.
38:08That's why the government in Mauritania started a citizen police force in the most remote parts of the country, where men travel by camel.
38:2125 soldiers are preparing for an expedition spanning several days. They're under the command of Colonel El Khalil.
38:37Last sip before you go? Yes, some water before leaving. We have to recharge. This will keep me going the whole day until midday.
38:50Three sips? Of course. A real camel driver can last a whole day on that.
38:56With just three sips? I can guarantee that, with two liters of water, at the most, I can make it 24 hours. Not to mention the camels.
39:04With two canteens full of water, they can manage up to ten days in the middle of the desert.
39:18Although camels can cover 65 kilometers in a day and carry 400 kilograms, they're stubborn animals and can be difficult to maneuver.
39:27To be part of the camel cavalry, it's required to be a nomad and have a thorough knowledge of the region, its people and dialects.
39:39You've been doing this long? Yes. How many years? I used to do it, yes.
39:53The men's most important job is to form relationships with the locals and listen to their problems.
40:00How are you? Where are you coming from?
40:09I'm getting water. From where? The drilling well?
40:13The biggest concern here is the water supply.
40:16Isn't Seyyil Ghabra closer?
40:20I've come from there.
40:22There's no water?
40:24No.
40:25Darn, the water's out.
40:27A water shortage can quickly lead to conflict among farmers. The colonel passes on the information.
40:35Let's keep moving. Forward. Let's go.
40:38This is all part of their mission, just like their intelligence operations.
40:46Hello. We don't want your sheep. We need information.
40:51The men ask the same questions at every encounter. Is the well working and has there been any suspicious activity?
40:58He says everything is normal. Nothing out of the ordinary.
41:01Alright. You can go. There's no water.
41:04No water? No, no, no.
41:10There's a well up ahead. Further ahead?
41:13There's a well in front of there. That's where we'll set up camp.
41:21The camel riding unit is responsible for maintaining the wells.
41:24In recent years, the Mauritanian government and the European Union have financed the drilling of hundreds of new wells.
41:35A policy that's proven effective.
41:42Have you ever reported the presence of jihadists?
41:44Yes, of course. There have been several cases we informed the authorities about. Some turned out to be ordinary citizens. But in other cases, they were really terrorists. Anything can happen. When you see suspicious activity, you report it straight away.
42:00Yes, of course.
42:07Another benefit of these wells? Locals can stay in these desert areas, which might otherwise become a haven for jihadists from Mali.
42:15Even for the perils.
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