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
![A ransacked restaurant. (Idriss Fall/VOA)](https://gdb.voanews.com/f5aff10c-52e3-4ad1-8d32-014761267ed3_w1024_q10_s.jpg)
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A ransacked restaurant. (Idriss Fall/VOA)