Mali Interim President in Favor of Altering Tuareg Rebel Ceasefire Agreement

Written by Makula Dunbar

Jun 14, 2013

Mali’s interim president told international mediators on Wednesday he wanted changes to a proposed ceasefire deal with Tuareg separatist rebels, meaning talks will have to resume on Thursday in neighboring Burkina Faso.

An agreement to allow Mali’s civil administration and armed forces to return to the Tuaregs’ last stronghold of Kidal, in Mali’s remote northeast, is essential for presidential elections on July 28 needed to unlock billions of euros in donors’ pledges.

The vote would complete a democratic transition after a military coup in March 2012 triggered by a Tuareg uprising that was soon hijacked by al Qaeda-linked groups. The Islamists’ 10-month domination of northern Mali was ended by a French-led military campaign launched in January.