On July 16, Malian authorities met rebels in Algeria to discuss the peace process, which is supposed to lead the West African country towards a long-term security situation, and a plan to combat terrorism with international support.
Prior to the meeting, a prisoner swap took place where 42 Tuareg fighters and 45 troops from the government were released. Mali government officials announced that they were willing to push their limitations to come to an agreement. Still, Islamic militants occupy more areas including villages located in the center of the country, according to analysts.
Many citizens believe Mali’s current security situation is troublesome. Since late May, authorities have continued to fail at stopping the progress of Islamic militants.
The Dificulty of Peace Negotiations
“The government is negotiating in a difficult situation and people are very concerned by the authorities’ weakness,” Tiébilé Dramé, Mali’s former chief negotiator told AFKInsider. “Instead of attempts to stop the progress of those militants, a few days ago the authorities issued a press release about some movements of troops in the North.”
One year after French military intervention, which liberated two-thirds of the country from the jihadist movements that ruled in the North, Al-Qaeda related groups are coming back. Drame is blaming the new president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita for the degradation of the security situation of the country, given that he wasted time before discussing peace agreements with rebels.
Three months after he took power last September, President Keita was supposed to launch negotiations with the armed groups who accepted to renounce terrorism.
“He thought he was elected president of a normal country and forgot Mali is trying to recover from a war,” Drame, who replaced by another negotiator, said.
Dead French Soldiers
Now the Malian authorities — who lost several positions in the Northern regions of the country— need a peace agreement with the militias that are engaged in the peace process facilitated by Algeria.
According to political leader Younouss Hamèye Dicko, an agreement with the militias that abandoned terrorism will help the government and the international forces to combat the terrorist groups that are assaulting the regular forces.
July 15, a French soldier was killed in the North of Mali during a military operation against Islamic movements that are trying to take the control of the region. According to Dicko, the official end of French Serval Operation in the country was announced on July 16. An Associated Press report confirmed that French troops will be redeployed in an expanded mission.
The Malian authorities were relying on tougher UN forces to combat the Islamist movements, but the Security Council didn’t accept this plan when renewing the mandate of UN forces present in the country.
“It’s like UN officials said, ‘we will assist you but it’s up to the Malian armed forces to go fetch the enemy wherever it’s hiding,’” Abdoulaye Traore, a retired Engineer, told AFKInsider.
Meanwhile, the UN forces are allowed to stay in Mali until June 30, 2015. Throughout Malian territory, 11,200 military forces and 1,440 police agents will work toward the stabilization of the country, civilians’ protection and the consolidation of the reconciliation process.
UN forces also have to accomplish other tasks including the offering of support to the establishment of the State’s authority, promoting and protecting human rights as well as humanitarian duties. However, as the Security Council invited the UN general secretary to take necessary measures so that the mission in Mali reaches full operational capacity, UN forces need assistance.
The international community is concerned by the escalating terrorist threats in Mali and the entire Sahel region where Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Ansar Dine, the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) and Al Mourabitoune are active. Malians now wonder what further progress will result from peace talks in Algeria as seemingly, national armed forces are unable to stop the expansion of the armed groups.
Prison break
“Maybe we are heading to the partition of the country in these conditions; we don’t have the military means and the diplomatic support to stop the armed groups. And UN forces seem to be sitting and admiring the rebels doing what they want,” Mariam Dembele, a student, told AFKInsider.
The UN has recognized that the Islamist movements are real threats to peace and security in the region. They’ve also condemned the human rights and violence abuses against civilians — especially women and children in the North of Mali.
The Islamist movements recently proved that they can operate violent attacks in the South of the country, even in the capital Bamako. The Malian government reported that the attack on the central prison of Bamako in late June was carried out by terrorist militants who escaped after they killed a custodian with gunfire.
Around 30 prisoners fled, but their escape left citizens with deep concerns even though most of them have been arrested in the capital.
“I’m now convinced that the terrorists can strike where they want in Mali because they have connection with people around us. The lady who gave accommodation to the chief of the prisoners that escaped has been arrested,” Dembele said. “But I’m sure no one in her neighborhood could imagine her involvement in such things.”