International mediation met Wednesday, February 1, 2023 in Kidal with the armed groups signatories of the 2015 peace agreement. Objective: to listen to their grievances as tension rises with Bamako, and to try to save an agreement more threatened than ever.
The armed groups did not go there by four paths. ” It is the agreement that makes us Malians said Alhabass Ag Intallah, head of the ex-independence rebels of the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) and current president of the Permanent Strategic Framework (CSP), which brings together signatory groups of all tendencies. ” Without this agreement, he continued, we are azawadians “. Term that refers only to the northern regions of Mali.
Words in the form of a warning, pronounced before a delegation of international mediation, the monitoring committee of the peace agreement, as well as the Security Council of the United Nations. Representatives of the African Union, ECOWAS and Minusma were also on the trip.
“These soldiers who took power”
Armed groups believe that the transitional Malian authorities from the August 2020 coup – “ these soldiers who took power in Bamako and from whom we receive no orders Alghabass Ag Intallah also said – are not engaged in the implementation of the agreement.
Since December, the signatory movements have suspended their participation in the mechanisms of the agreement and are asking for an emergency meeting ” on neutral ground “. Meeting whose principle was accepted by the mediation, but rejected by the Malian government of transition. The signatory groups have therefore reiterated this request and hoped that the mediation would show more firmness.
The peace agreement “only link with Mali”
” This agreement is the only link we have today with the government of Bamakospecifies in a more diplomatic way Attaye Ag Mohamed, in charge of the file for the CSP. Its non-application puts us completely out of the Malian sphere, and strengthens us in our position as defenders of an Azawadian cause. If the government shows contempt for the agreement, the movements will take note “.
Alghabass’s brother, Atayoub Ag Intallah, president of civil society in Kidal, also spoke to the “good offices mission”: in addition to the lack of progress in the implementation of the peace agreement , he deplored the deterioration of the socio-economic context in Kidal, the humanitarian crisis and the displacement of populations linked to the offensive of the Islamic State group in the North-East of the country. Above all, he criticized the government’s inaction in the face of this situation.
International mediation, led by its leader, Algeria, responded by showing its determination to defend the peace agreement, and assured that exchanges were underway with the government party to try to restore the link. ” We ask both parties to talk to each other againexplains a diplomatic source, and we are also looking for a solution to relaunch the holding of the monitoring committees of the agreement “.
Avoid escalation
How can armed groups be reassured? ” We don’t say that we are reassuredexplains Attaye Ag Mohamed for the CSP. But we believe that there are efforts underway, and that our concern is understood by international mediation. Now we are trying to avoid any escalation actions that could generate forms of hostility. Our hope is that dialogue will be established “.
Asked by RFI about this visit, the Malian Ministry of National Reconciliation did not follow up. Since last December, and the request for an emergency meeting made by the CSP, the transitional authorities have met with the mediation on several occasions – two ministers even traveled to Algiers two weeks ago to meet President Abdelmadjid Tebboune – but have never communicated officially on the subject.
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