It is around 2 p.m. when the Malian Army fighter plane begins its low-altitude rotations over Kidal. No strike, but the ex-rebels from the Coordination of Movements of Azawad (CMA) responded with warning shots.
Similar overflights also took place in Ber, Anefif and Amassine. “It’s a hostile act, a CMA executive believes, as these planes flew by surprise over areas under CMA control. »
According to several Kidal sources, no Malian military plane has flown over Kidal in this way since 2012, the year the independence rebellion broke out – some initially believed it was an attack.
“Serious Provocation”
Since then there has been the 2014 ceasefire and the 2015 peace agreement, but tensions are currently highest between the signatory armed groups and the Malian transitional authorities, who have not spoken to each other for years and accuse each other of blocking the implementation of the peace agreement.
Many fear a resumption of hostilities, which the Algerian mediator is trying to avoid.
In a press release issued Wednesday afternoon, the CMA denounced a “violation” of the ceasefire, a “serious provocation” and “rejects any responsibility and consequences arising from such actions.”
eleventh anniversary
Several CMA executives, who have been joined by RFI, believe it was also an act of intimidation on the eve of the 11th anniversary of Azawad’s declaration of independence this Thursday. A rally is planned in Kidal at 1 p.m. to mark the occasion. “They tried to intimidate the population into not participating,” one CMA framework estimates, but it won’t work. »
The celebrations marking the anniversary of Azawad’s declaration of independence in 2012 are perceived as a provocation every year, despite the signing of a peace agreement in Bamako in 2015.
“No Harmful Action”
When asked by RFI, the Malian Army and the Malian Ministry of Defense did not respond.
Earlier in the week, in response to rumors circulating on social networks, Malian army spokesman Colonel Souleymane Dembélé assured that “no harmful action would be taken in relation to Kidal”, putting relations between the army and the signatory armed groups well in the frame of the peace agreement fell and that the army only targeted terrorist groups.
Statements in line with the official position of the Malian interim government.
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