VOA reporter Idriss Fall is one of the first journalists to reach Gao, northern Mali's largest city, since Islamists seized control of the region several months ago and began enforcing a strict form of Sharia law - banning alcohol and smoking and insisting that women wear veils, among other measures.
A Visit to Gao, Northern Mali's Largest City
![Jobless people in Gao. (Idriss Fall/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/4FB1D0AD-4D99-4221-BA51-B1C9634169E4_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Jobless people in Gao. (Idriss Fall/VOA)
![Citizens playing soccer, which is forbidden in the country. (Idriss Fall/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/B2A3AE77-2029-4266-8FC8-025EE3EC5B25_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Citizens playing soccer, which is forbidden in the country. (Idriss Fall/VOA)
![A local office of EcoBank. (Idriss Fall/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/73D73072-6992-4E28-B571-2D6602182C62_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A local office of EcoBank. (Idriss Fall/VOA)
![Inside a church destroyed by Islamists. (Idriss Fall/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/5D22A3FC-9467-459F-B0E7-E8FCFBDEC71F_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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Inside a church destroyed by Islamists. (Idriss Fall/VOA)