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BAMAKO, Mali - Since its liberation from Islamist militants, the central Malian town of Douentza no longer has its dusty streets full of the usual young boys, begging for coins from passing cars.

Some of those youths became soldiers fighting for jihadists. They died in firefights as their Islamist leaders tried to make a push toward Mali's capital, Bamako. Others who survived are too scared to come home, fearing retribution for collaborating with the enemy.

Read more at USA Today

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