Talk Elections

Through December and early January, the tone of the exchanges on various Tuareg chat forums was expectant, frustrated, even desultory at times.

Tuareg rebels in the war against al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb?

The situation is still evolving as fast in northern Mali, but this time there is no question of lightning advances toward Bamako. He would rather the turn of the war, with Tuareg rebels who would fight AQIM (Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb). Just when the Tuareg movement announced (Wednesday night) the "end of military operations"? In reality, this unilateral decision by the MNLA concerns only the advance southward, and then suspends the attacks towards loyalist areas. The lock, from this point of view, would have been Mopti. Precisely, the MNLA has not taken Mopti (except shift), and their troops, having driven or seen fleeing the loyalist troops across Northern Mali (Azawad), are now turning to domestic problems. This is where the problem arises with AQIM, and the forces of another rebel leader, Iyad ag Ghali, who seems opposed to the MNLA and closer to AQIM.

The problem is particularly acute in Timbuktu, where all these forces are nested inside each other for two days, but also in the rest of Azawad, this Northern Mali that could eventually become a territory in search of its autonomy. Gao, for example, elements of AQIM close (probably MUJOA group), participated according to the MNLA hostage during the consulate of Algeria. Two people with explosive belts would be right now with the hostages, and a source within the MNLA says his group "is reluctant to storm!" We see how the situation produces surprising effects.

But back to Timbuktu. The MNLA, controlled locally by its chief of staff, Mohamed Ag Najim was the first to come into town for the weekend, almost without a struggle, is materialized before another group, Ansar Dine, ordered by Iyag ag Ghali, and some AQIM katibas. Evidenced by various sources, including those contacted by telephone in the city.

Between the MNLA and AQIM, divorce is vital

In fact impossible to go to Timbuktu, and it must be based on several sources, but without personal verification and direct, to understand what is taking place.

But what is happening could be of paramount importance. In essence, the MNLA plans to address this to AQIM, why not with the help of Western countries and the region (West Africa). This is ag Sid'Ahmed Hama, External Relations and spokesperson for the Executive Office of the MNLA, which explains at midday Thursday.

Between the MNLA and AQIM, divorce is vital for Tuareg rebels who fear "amalgam" and have in mind the fate of their Azawad. To support his point of view, Hama dates back to ag Sid'Ahmed taking Timbuktu: The MNLA had negotiated entry into the city with some militias "Arab", but these militias are of several types. The first group, the most numerous, let him in without a fight in the MNLA Timbuktu, which had been abandoned by the regular troops (rather from the south of the country). The others are either relatives of Ansar Dine or members of pro-AQIM networks they are usually used for refueling. (More katibas because, over the years, had a habit of coming to shop in the cities, never raise ration of the Malian authorities).

Peaceful coexistence could be shattered soon

According to Hama ag Sid'Ahmed AQIM, it is the latter group would have raced to the abandoned camp to be used in military equipment. "The small group of Arabs who are the network of AQIM in Timbuktu long took up arms and ammunition in the camp. Everyone was doing and was using. It was one of the objectives of AQIM in Timbuktu. "
Since then, a sort of calm has been established in Timbuktu. forces MNLA, up to Thursday afternoon, were concentrated at the airport, but also went to the center, or hospital, run by a mixture of AQIM forces, local militias and fighters of Ansar Dine. A form of peaceful coexistence, probably short life expectancy.
Who should be shattered soon as the MNLA, according to his spokesman of the executive, would give an ultimatum until Friday to AQIM and Iyad ag Ghali troops to leave Timbuktu, otherwise the fighting begin . The same source, men can be classified as members of AQIM would be 146 on the extent of the city. The MNLA even claims to block the road AQIM South!

The MNLA goes even further: in a second step, this would all positions of AQIM in Mali that could be attacked, mainly in the north east, towards the Adora N'Fughas, area where normally Abu Zeid, one of the hardest emirs of AQIM, which still holds four French hostages.

In considering this war against AQIM, the MNLA offers to cooperate with countries in the region, which are now gathered in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, to advance on the definition of an African force could be deployed between North and South Mali. For such a hypothesis took shape, and a force still hypothetical eventually there should be a serious international support, probably a UN resolution, and an almost complete logistical support for this force. The MNLA proposes to Western countries "like France for example" (but also the U.S.) to participate in this operation Anti-AQIM. Waiting to see if this hypothesis is taking shape.

Meanwhile, pressure continues on the captain Sanogo, the junta leader in Bamako, to convince him to leave office. If he took this decision, perhaps soon, the path would be easier for an anti-AQIM. And the overthrow of Amadou Toumani Toure would have led to this ....

I don't believe that any group claiming to fight for freedom or against oppression is FFs. An example:

ETA 2000: Clearly not FF since the Basques were not oppressed by the modern Spanish state, which is a democracy and has given them autonomy which protects their language and culture. They could (de facto) obtain independence by getting a majority for it in their parliament and holding a referendum. And a majority of the Basques had accepted autonomy in a referendum.

ETA 1970: Fighting the fascists. Clearly FF - even if they used terror.

So even though ETA had the same self perception, goals, methods and ideology in 1970 and 2000. They changed from FFs to terrorists IMO. But as I said FF is a highly subjective term. "One mans terrorist is another mans freedom fighter".

The West African regional bloc Ecowas has said it is preparing a force of up to 3,000 soldiers, which could be deployed to wrest back control of the north.

Last week, Capt Sanogo formally asked for Ecowas's help in defeating the rebels, but in televised remarks on Monday night he said he was only asking for equipment and logistical support.