All of Mali has now turned its attention to the north. Even though war has not officially been declared between Bamako and the former rebel movements of the north – the two signatories of the Algiers peace agreement in 2015 – weapons on the ground have been under discussion since August and concerns continue to grow: is the Malian army preparing an attack on Kidal? This city near the Algerian border is a symbol and an important subject of Bamako’s sovereignty: it was the bastion of the four Tuareg uprisings launched against the state since the end of French colonization in 1960, with the aim of achieving independence of Azawad to proclaim northern part of Mali.
According to several specialists on conflicts in the Sahel, the Malian armed forces (FAMA) could immediately try to recapture the Aguelhok and Tessalit bases north of the ex-rebel stronghold before attempting to retake Kidal. and which the United Nations mission in Mali (Minusma) plans to leave after UN forces were driven out by the junta in June.
Also read: In Mali, the army is advancing into the Kidal region, stronghold of the Tuareg rebellion
The Malian military, in power since its coup in August 2020, is no longer making any secret of its intentions. “The process of irreversible occupation of Malian lands, which is part of the unity of Mali, continues and will continue despite the futile resistance of some of its prodigal sons. “Our brave army will fight to the last breath to defend the integrity of our beloved homeland, which is one and indivisible,” FAMA spokesman Colonel Souleymane Dembélé warned on national television on Tuesday.
Since Monday, October 2, this desire for reconquest has taken the form of a column of more than a hundred army vehicles. After leaving Gao in the north-east of the country, he has moved further north since Wednesday, October 4th. In order to prevent the advance of soldiers into this area, which they believe is under their control, the groups of former Tuareg and Arab rebels united in the Strategic Framework for Peace, Security and Development (CSP-PSD) are fighting back. According to several security and diplomatic sources, fighting broke out on Wednesday between them and the FAMA between Tarkint and Tabankort, places about 160 km south of Kidal, while on the same day the former rebels demanded the capture of a new camp the army called the latter in the 100 km distant Taoussa as “terrorists”.
You still have 72.23% of this article left to read. The rest is reserved for subscribers.