Tension remains high in the north-eastern provincial capital of Kidal, where a ministerial delegation was forced to retreat after an attack by Tuareg rebels of the MNLA (National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad). Based on first reports in the Malian media, young supporters of the MNLA first impeded the plane of the delegation from landing and then threw stones against the ministerial convoy headed to the city, forcing them to interrupt the visit.
The new minister of National Reconciliation and Development in the northern regions, Cheick Oumar Diarrah, was accompanied by his colleagues for Internal Security, Colonel Sada Samaké, and Territorial Administration, General Muossa Sinko Coulibaly. “We came here, sent by the President of the Republic, to bring a message of peace to the populations and traditional leaders, but also to discuss a lasting solution to the Malian crisis, to restore peace and security”, stated Diarrah on his arrival in Kidal. Two bombs exploded in the city during the visit, without however causing any casualties. The peacekeepers of the UN Mission (MINUSMA) used tear gas to disperse a rally of MNLA supporters protesting against the ministerial delegation.
Tension and instability remain high also in other territories of Azawad, especially after the violence on Wednesday in the Foïta area, on the border with Mauritania, between the Malian armed forces and MNLA rebels, which left an unconfirmed number dead. In a statement released in the past hours, Mossa Ag Attaher, spokesman of the Tuareg rebellion, threatened to “respond and annihilate the aggressors” in case of a new “armed incident”. The MNLA accuses Bamako authorities of violating the Ouagadougou accords signed last June, with an attack against their posts and also of failing to free detained Tuareg rebels. On paper, the new government of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta has two months time to reach a final peace accord with the counterpart.
By MISNA
