Mali reaches deal with Tuareg rebels

The deal could pave the way for Malian government troops to return to the rebel-held town of Kidal.

Malian soldiers take cover as they fight while clashes erupted in the city of Gao in February 2013. Picture: AFP

Eyewitness News | 2366 days ago

OUAGADOUGOU - Mali has reached a deal with Tuareg separatist rebels paving the way for Malian government troops to return to the rebel-held northern town of Kidal ahead of planned elections in July, Mali's chief negotiator said on Tuesday.

"The accord is ready to be signed," Tiebile Drame told Reuters in the Burkina Faso capital Ouagadougou where talks have been taking place for over a week. "I can tell you that the interim accord will be signed this afternoon."

Drame did not provide further details.

Mediators said a week ago that both parties had reached an agreement "in principle". However, Mali's interim President Dioncounda Traore, sworn in after a military coup last year, had baulked at a deal imposing conditions on the army's return to Kidal.

Bamako has made clear that it wants its civilian administration and army reinstated in the rebel stronghold before elections scheduled for 28 July, which are meant to complete a democratic transition after the March 2012 coup.

The army has threatened to seize the town if no agreement was reached.

Mediators, including delegates from the European Union and the United Nations, have worked round the clock to salvage the ceasefire deal.

A French-led military campaign launched in January ended the 10-month occupation of the northern two-thirds of Mali by al Qaeda-linked Islamist fighters.

When the Islamists withdrew, the Tuareg separatists regained control of Kidal, their traditional fiefdom.

There is widespread opposition in Bamako to any deal that would make concessions to the MNLA. The group is blamed by many in southern Mali for opening the door to the Islamists with an uprising last year and its leaders face arrest warrants for alleged crimes committed during their occupation of the north.

Timeline

White House offers $10m for Mali refugee aid

2707 days ago

Comments

EWN welcomes all comments that are constructive, contribute to discussions in a meaningful manner and take stories forward.

However, we will NOT condone the following:

- Racism (including offensive comments based on ethnicity and nationality)
- Sexism
- Homophobia
- Religious intolerance
- Cyber bullying
- Hate speech
- Derogatory language
- Comments inciting violence.

We ask that your comments remain relevant to the articles they appear on and do not include general banter or conversation as this dilutes the effectiveness of the comments section.

We strive to make the EWN community a safe and welcoming space for all.

EWN reserves the right to: 1) remove any comments that do not follow the above guidelines; and, 2) ban users who repeatedly infringe the rules.

Should you find any comments upsetting or offensive you can also flag them and we will assess it against our guidelines.

EWN is constantly reviewing its comments policy in order to create an environment conducive to constructive conversations.