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Algeria boosts Mali mediation efforts

By Walid Ramzi for Magharebia in Algiers

With thousands of refugees fleeing the war in northern Mali, Algeria is looking to find a peaceful settlement to the crisis.
Algeria recently hosted three days of talks between the Malian government and rebels in an effort to bring to an end the nearly month-old Touareg revolt.

A Malian delegation led by Foreign Minister Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga met February 2nd with members of the Touaregs' 23 May Democratic Alliance for Change, whose elements fought alongside the National Movement for the Liberation of Azaouad (MNLA) against Malian military forces.

The representatives of the two sides concluded with an "urgent" call to end hostilities in northern Mali and to begin dialogue. A source close to the negotiations told APS that "the two sides also agreed to unify efforts and make use of good will in Kidal, Gao and Timbuktu and the rest of country to create a suitable atmosphere based on dialogue and consultations on the 'suitable solutions'."

Meanwhile, the two sides denounced violence and regretted human losses, expressing their "condolences and sympathy with the families and relatives of victims". The two sides said that the on-going developments wouldn't cause them to ignore the threat of terrorism and organised crime.

They also acknowledged a "delay" in implementing programmes agreed upon in the framework of the Algiers Agreement.

The meeting was held in an attempt to restore calm to northern Mali, following violent clashes that broke out January 17th between the Malian army and Touareg autonomy movements. Touareg rebels from the MNLA attacked several cities, including Menaka, near Niger, Aguelhoc and Tessalit, near Algeria, and Léré and Niafounke, near Mauritania.

Multiple people were killed and wounded on both sides in the battles. In addition, clashes caused thousands of people to flee and seek shelter in camps in Algeria, Niger and Mauritania. The war has also caused waves of protests among the families of Malian military personnel who are fighting in the north of the country because of what they described as "authorities' weak reaction" to the attacks.

Meanwhile, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on Monday received Mali's foreign minister who handed him a message from Malian President Amadou Toumani Tourè on the security developments.

Maiga lauded Algeria's assistance to resolve the conflict in northern Mali and said that President Bouteflika "expressed his willingness to help, providing necessary analyses so that our problems may find solutions in a peaceful framework". He confirmed Mali's commitment "to be more mobilised in the framework of the only war we must wage in this part of our national soil, which is combating terrorist groups and transnational crime."

In a televised speech last Wednesday, Malian President Amadou Toumani Tourè urged citizens to avoid revenge attacks.

"Those who attacked military barracks and some localities in the north should not be confused with our fellow Touaregs, Arabs, Songhaï and Fulani, who live with us," the president said. "Everyone has the same rights and the same aspirations to live in peace."

The Malian president promised that the "state will mobilise all of its capabilities in terms of facilities, logistics and maintenance to allow the army to do what it should do to maintain the country's territorial integrity and protect citizens and properties."

Meanwhile, some Touaregs factions rejected this call to end hostilities. MNLA Secretary-General Belal Ag Sharif said the Algiers talks didn't concern his group but that they respected the efforts of the May 23rd Alliance.

In an interview with Algeria's El Khabar daily, Ag Sharif denied any ties with al-Qaeda and denied that his movement obtained Libyan weapons. He also called on the Algerian government to help stop an "ethnic war" in Mali.

Ag Sharif added that the MNLA was prepared to negotiate to reach a reliable solution that would put an end to the war and lead to Azaouad residents running their own affairs. "Before any talk about a ceasefire, the Malian government must recognise Touaregs' rights," he insisted.

© Magharebia.com 2012