Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Bamako (Agenzia Fides) – Representatives from the Mali Government and members of the Tuareg Rebellion will meet in the coming days to continue dialogue on the peace agreements of July 2006.
The accords, mediated by Algeria, had remained for the most part unapplied and the conflict between the rebels and the government never ended. Algeria, which is showing a growing concern for the insecurity in the sub-Saharan region, convinced the two parties to return to the negotiation table. On July 21, a new agreement was signed in Algeria that called for an immediate cease-fire. The accords state that the parties have until August 15 to reach an agreement on the release of prisoners (at least 92 Mali soldiers are being held hostage by the guerrillas), the confiscation of mines from the territory, and the return of refugees. The commission, which is formed by rebels and members of the government, should see to the application of the agreements that have already been made.
The Algerian media is focusing on the fact that the success of diplomacy in the countries is not only a question of prestige and proximity, but rather it has to do directly with national security. According to these interpretations, in fact, south of the Sahara, in the southern part of Algeria, Mali, and other nations in the area, there has been a “duty free” zone created where contraban (trafficking of arms, drugs, and human beings), is practiced by rebel militias and terrorists. Algeria is particularly worried about the presence of Islamic revels of the “Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat” (GSPC) that for some time has adopted the sign of Al Qaida of Mahreb, after proclaiming their loyalty to Bin Laden.
The existence of the Tuareg rebellion in the north of Mali contributes to the instability of the area and thus, Algeria hopes to reconcile the two parties. The Tuareg are a nomad population that lives in the Sahara, especially between Mali, Niger, and the southern part of Algeria (there are also Tuareg factions in Libya, Burkina Faso, and Chad. The Tuareg feel discriminated by the governors of the States in which they live and have begun various guerrilla movements. In Niger, there are now Tuareg uprisings as well.
In the case of Mali, the Democratic Alliance for Change, a group uniting various Tuareg rebel movements in the country, has preferred to negotiate with the government due to the international support that the country receives. Algeria has created patrols on the border with Mali, whose army has been trained, armed, and re-organized by the United States as part of its assistance program for sub-Saharan African nations.
The agreement is being facilitated by the fact that the Tuareg rebels are not requesting independence, but rather economic aid for developing the land where they live. These lands are in the regions of Tombouctou, Gao, and Kidal, which is equal to about two thirds of the national territory and 10% of the country’s population. (LM) (Agenzia Fides 25/7/2008)
