In Mali, a Malian army plane flew over the city of Kidal, in the north, this Wednesday, April 5 in the afternoon. The ex-independence rebels of the CMA, signatories of the 2015 peace agreement, and of which Kidal is the stronghold, fired warning shots. What arouse strong tension on the eve of the 11th anniversary of the proclamation of independence of Azawad.
It is around 2 p.m. when the Malian army fighter plane begins its rotations, at low altitude, above Kidal. No strike, but the ex-rebels of the Coordination of Movements of Azawad (CMA) respond with warning shots.
Similar overflights also took place in Ber, Anefif and Amassine. “ It is a hostile act, believes a CMA executive, since these planes flew over areas under CMA control by surprise. »
In the memory of several Kidal sources, a Malian military plane had not flown over Kidal in this way – some initially believed in an attack – since 2012, the year in which the independence rebellion broke out.
“Serious provocation”
Since then, there has been the 2014 ceasefire and the 2015 peace agreement, but tension is currently at its highest between the signatory armed groups and the Malian transitional authorities, who have not spoken to each other for years. months and blame each other for blockages in the application of the peace agreement.
Many fear a resumption of hostilities, which the Algerian mediator is trying to avoid.
In a press release published Wednesday afternoon, the CMA denounces a “ breach ” of the ceasefire, a ” serious provocation “, And ” disclaims all liability and consequences resulting from such actions “.
eleventh anniversary
Several executives of the CMA joined by RFI believe that it is also a maneuver of intimidation on the eve of the eleventh anniversary, this Thursday, of the proclamation of independence of Azawad. A rally is planned in Kidal on this occasion at 1 p.m. ” They tried to intimidate people into not participating, believes a CMA executive, but that won’t work. »
The celebration of the anniversary of the proclamation of independence of Azawad, in 2012, despite the signing of a peace agreement in 2015, is each year perceived as a provocation in Bamako.
“No harmful action”
Asked by RFI, the Malian army and the Malian Ministry of Defense did not respond.
Earlier this week, the spokesperson for the Malian army, Colonel Souleymane Dembélé, assured, in response to rumors on social networks, that ” no harmful action would be undertaken with regard to Kidal that relations between the army and the signatory armed groups were well within the framework of the peace agreement, and that the army only targeted terrorist groups.
Statements in line with the official position of the Malian transitional government.
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