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Touareg rebellion in Mali is on
Started yesterday, when rebels cut the phone lines and attacked Menaka.
Combats dans la ville de Ménaka, dans le nord du Mali - Mali - RFI with an eyewitness report Malian army fought back, bombing tuareg positions with choppers from Gao. Some confusion after, where MNLA claim to have their flags over the city while Bamako claims to have retaken it. There is fighting in other towns as well, and MNLA has set their objectives on taking Adaramboukare, Tessalit, and Timbuktu. They are led by Moussa Ag Acharatoumane who is in Paris using satellite phone Ménaka: 1ère ville sous le contrôle du MNLA AFP: Mali army bombs Tuareg rebels, four arrested: military Tuareg rebels, including former pro-Gadhafi fighters, attack towns in north Mali - The Washington Post UPDATE 1-Mali says several killed in Tuareg attack | Reuters MNLA spokesman Hama Ag Sidi Ahmed announces new revolt, saying they were provoked by the movement of Malian troops (to TinZ). MNLA | Facebook Mouvement National pour la Liberation de l'Azawad |
MNLA say they have taken Aguelhoc and are moving towards Tessalit
Nouvelle offensive des rebelles touaregs dans le nord du Mali - Mali - RFI Nord-Mali : après Ménaka, les rebelles touaregs attaquent Aguelhok et Tessalit | Jeuneafrique.com http://maliweb.net/category.php?NID=85814&intr= |
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Tuaregs claim to have taken down one aircraft, say many casualties on both sides
they had all of Tessalit except for the barracks, and only due to the presence of Algerian military Mort du Colonel-Major Ould Meydou; Adaramboukare, Tessit, Ntillit, et Aguelhoc sous le contrôle du MNLA they will pull back and make more raids later, like in the last rebellions Malian army says 45 dead rebels 2 army casualties.....and to have retaken the cities http://presstv.com/detail/222143.html This time there is no Qadafi to step in....golden opportunity for Algeria to step in - but will they? edit - the above photo turns out to be from a burnt truck in Niger 2008 http://tomathon.com/mphp/2012/01/fre...to-of-a-truck/ raising doubts against MNLA's claim of having taken down one Mig and a helicopter. |
Touaregs fighting touaregs
Touareg rebellion-au-nord-mali-touaregs-de-kaddafi-fight for-Bamako Niger's Issofou warns of touareg rebellion but at the same time launches a development plan and he has seen to have touareg representation in the government http://www.news24.com/Africa/News/Ni...llion-20120122 "Mohamed Anako, a figurehead of the Tuareg rebels active in the 1990s, made what he called an "urgent appeal" to Malian Tuaregs seeking autonomy in their desert region "to favour dialogue over violence". "The current situation in neighbouring Mali rightly worries us," said Anako who is now head of the Agadez regional council." |
rebellion-touareguenord-mali-qui-sont-les-rebelles-du-mnla.html
mnla-au-mali-ag-najem-ou-la-soif-de-vengeance.html Portrait of one leader - these touaregs returning from Libya after 10-20-30 years with Khadafi may be a new breed of fighters l-armee-decouvre-les-corps-d-une-quarantaine-de-militaires-a-aguelhok.html 40+ dead soldiers in Aguelhoc. Touaregs strike, then withdraw, waiting for reinforcements of Malian troops to arrive they can ambush. At this rate, Malian army may have a hard time finding willing recruits. But according to rapports, many of these soldiers were Imghad touaregs. MNLA have taken Adaramboukare and Lere. Harcelé et vaincu à Adjelhoc, Aderamboukare, et Léré, le Mali continu sa recherche de soutiens |
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Thousands of civilians and also Malian soldiers running for their lives finding refuge in Niger
Mali : civils et militaires se réfugient au Niger - Niger / Mali - RFI also to Mauretania and Malian camps. Touaregs and Mali FM meeting in Algiers Rébellion Touareg : Retour à la case Alger - Actualité - El Watan but the leaders of the MNLA are not present. "Huge movement" of touaregs and arabs leaving Bamako, after there has been attacks (several homes and a tuareg clinic pillaged in Kati). The protests in the streets are lead by relatives of Malian soldiers complaining about the lack of equipment and support from Bamako. UPDATE 1-Mali capital paralysed by anti-rebellion protests | News by Country | Reuters In Niger president Issofou launched a development program for Agadez region, to be run by touaregs http://magharebia.com/cocoon/awi/xht.../01/feature-03 who have therefore forcefully distanced themselves from the rebellion in Mali. |
update from gao
Just got back from a short journey up to Gao. The situation is tense in the North, but the road to Gao itself is clear. Private vehicles are discouraged of course, but traveling on public buses is no problem. Gao is under heavy military presence, patrols of miitary in the street every night. North of Gao to Kidal, the route is unsure. Adagh Voyage is still making its run to Kidal, but one way -- cars are full coming into Gao, but empty returning to Kidal. People are reporting to be crying/pleaing for seats on buses to leave Kidal. Many of the posts along the route have been abandoned. Equally so south to Niamey -- the police have abandoned their post at the border and moved it North to Ansongo. For the 90 kilometers south from Ansongo to the border, there is no military. A few of the posts are guarded by Ganda Koy militas. But the territory is effectively Azawad.
It's difficult to ascertain rumour from fact. Every phone call in Mali now is preceded by the obligatory inquiry -- 'is everything alright in Gao/Kidal/Timbouctou'. Cities continue to be attacked. Niafounke, for example, is under constant siege every night. Kidal was given an ultimatum -- civilians were told to leave the city by Feb. 4th -- and the other night, there was mortar fire (directed outward, by the military, fearing an attack). Rebels still hold Menaka, but Ganda Koy continues to patrol and secure the population. The MNLA has recruited heavily from the Malian military, and Tamashek military are falling suspect. One young soldier was killed in Niafounke for apparently passing information for the rebels, whilst in fact he was talking with his girlfriend on the phone. Tamashek are fleeing Mali. Most everyone has fled Kidal, Sonrai leaving for Gao, Tamahsek crossing into Algeria. A huge group of refugees arrived at the Burkina border but are being held by authorities waiting to enter, ongoing discussion with ATT. The president is pleading for calm in the face of attacks on Tuareg businesses in the south, fearing similar attacks on Bambara in the North. The rebellion itself is not drawn along ethnic lines, it's rumoured there are at least 30 Sonrai in the MNLA near Aguelhoc, and that former Ganda Koy fighters have joined the rebellion. AQMI is an afterthought -- no one is talking about them (save that the second attack on Aguelhoc was rumoured to be an AQMI attack, not Tuareg, as 'they looked like Arabs'), except when it comes to foreigners. The lack of security makes it fairly easy for banditry and as there is a price on foreigners, one is advised to keep a low profile. Governmental officials are taking the situation seriously. The rebellion is at a level not seen since the 1990s. Timbouctou Kel Ansar along with the Bambara ruling classes, initially trying to pass this off as Libyan banditry, now have a full rebellion on their hands. Casualties are being largely unreported (one source quoiting 115 military dead at Aguelhoc -- including civilian casualties who were attacked clearing the bodies). Public opinion amongst the Tuareg is swaying towards Azawad, but with a realization of the cost of the looming war, which most agree would be best avoided. |
Hi Kirkley aka gentleman explorer, we met at sleeping camel.
I can only add that tension in Bamako is high, I was arrested last week and still don't have my passport back and last night 4 tourists from our hotel got held all night for not having their passports with them. The riots on thursday were concentrated around the presidential pallace and we only saw some burning car tyres. |
Great to have these reports from Mali - many thanks to T-Bird and Kirkley. I've been reading about an exodus of 15000+ people to Niger and Mauri.
Can't help but think of the hostages in NE Mali. This latest has set them back many months - at least I would think. It all suits AQIM so well - clears the govt out of their patch. |
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Interesting analysis.
The Causes of the Uprising in Northern Mali | Think Africa Press |
Yes Chris, best ever analysis
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Nord-Mali : les Bamakois jugent sévèrement la politique sécuritaire d'ATT
Insight: Arms and men out of Libya fortify Mali rebellion | Reuters US postpones Mali military exercise amid attacks - Boston.com Tuareg rebels take Mali border areaSome malian soldiers fled into Algeria. Toumast Press | L’info du peuple Tamasheq vue par des Tamasheq MNLA claims to have destroyed a malian army convoy to Tessalit and installing an administration in Tin Z.. They have their own media, facebook, youtube channel... |
Heavy fighting reported from Tessalit
Nord-Mali : à Tessalit, l'armée frappe un grand coup contre les rebelles du MNLA Malian army using gunships manned by ukrainian mercenaries Mali : violents combats à Tessalit entre le MNLA et l'armée malienne - Temoust.org | Le portail du peuple touareg berbère Kel Tamasheq No independent sources. |
Recent map sent to me of refugee/IDP upheaval in north Mali.
http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb...s/map_1678.pdf and some news here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17082365 Ch |
The dynamic forces behind the rebellion by Baz Lecocq
allAfrica.com: Mali: The Tuareg - Between Armed Uprising and Drought Heavy fighting around Tessalit |
also, a story I saw today on how Niger is said to be dealing better with a similar possibility: BBC News - Tuareg rebels make troubled return from Libya to Mali
Ch |
While the battle for Tessalit goes on, there are signs of negotiations coming up
Touareg, Mali start talks (Magharebia.com) Mali : le MNLA s'organise pour mettre au point une plateforme de revendications - Mali - RFI |
With the fall of Tessalit, only Kidal, Timbuktu and Gao remains under government control.
Tuareg rebels take Mali garrison town - Pretoria News | IOL.co.za |
Sharia or independence?
Andy Morgan writes about the touareg rebellion
http://www.theglobaldispatches.com/a...areg-rebellion also http://www.andymorganwrites.com/azaw...northern-mali/ With Malian central government and the army weaker than ever, touaregs have taken over much of the north. Latest conquests was Anefif and Bourma without firing a single shot, since the barracks had been deserted by the army. Imghad who fought for Bamako have largely deserted, but their leader Ag Hamou refuse to change sides. Ongoing negotiations near Kidal over several days now, between Ag Gamou, Iyad Ag Ghali and MNLA. If MNLA and Ag Ghaly's Ansar Din can't strike a deal, there's a real risk that they will have to fight it out between themselves, as their goals are incompatible - MNLA fighting for independence, Ansar Din for sharia. Both groups are heavily armed. |
Radical Tuareg Islam group Ansar Dine signed agreement in Gao independency of Malian northern territory said for british BBC Tuareg commander Bouna Ag Attayoub (MNLA). The name of new "independent" country is Azavad. Already 300.000 domestic ones left that territory.
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African Union asked UN Security Council for military intervene in northern Mali. ECOWAS concern possible Al Qaeda camps in that territory and unstability of region. Situation could goes direction like in Afghanistan.
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Article from France 24. with some photos of MNLA fighters and their bases
Exclusive: Tuareg rebels in Mali talk tactics and weaponry | The Observers |
France 24 reporting that Tuareg rebels have been routed from their last position in Ansogo N.Mali by Islamists.
"This latest defeat means the Tuareg rebels no longer control any town in northern Mali, and are moving through the Islamist-controlled area in small groups, seeking survival rather than combat." "The Tuareg rebels were driven out by the Islamists from their last bastion, Ansogo, situated 100 kilometres (60 miles) north of Gao," said a local government official in the town. He said that while the Tuareg National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) had still controlled part of the zone, "now it's finished, they have run off into the bush". "Now our whole region is in the hands of Islamists." Also from France 24, a little-heard perspective from the people caught in the middle of the conflict, shining a little light on the complexities of the situation and fluidity of loyalties. |
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Whatever, depressing news. So much for the Tuareg fight back. Ch |
Analysis of the current conflict, its roots and perspectives by Laurent Bigot, sous-directeur Afrique Occidentale French Foreign Ministry.
Crise malienne: La vérité brutale et glaciale - Vidéo Dailymotion Un diplomate français fustige la classe politique du Mali et du Burkina - Agence Ecofin |
Thanks Yves.
Unfortunately, I think that is true... RR. |
for all of you that follows whats going on in Mali,
what do you think about the future? What are the possibilites to get visa and travel through south in the end of november? :unsure: |
IMO as far as travel goes the problem has stayed in the north, visas are still being issued and transit across the south to Burkina and Niger is OK.
Ch |
Mali,Niger Tchad
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Or it's better (more secure) to transit across Niger to Nigeria then to Tchad? RR. |
It was better a few years ago but now I assume Niger to Chad is better than via northeast Nigeria as Maidiguri is Boko Haram homeland, AFAIK.
A report of the Lake Chad route from 2012. Cameroon to Niger. NDJ seemed OK. Ch |
Thanks Chris,
RR. |
Thanks Chris!
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There is a military buildup going on in east Mauretania with touareg rebel troups and support from France (Atar) and the US (Nema).
Nord-Mali : La reconquête se préparerait-elle à partir de la Mauritanie ? Also US presence in Niger Crise malienne : Les «experts» européens vont débarquer en Mauritanie So there may be an attempt to reconquer northern Mali from the islamists Reconquérir le Nord du Mali : La France et les Etats-Unis ignorent l’armée malienne et coopèrent avec le MNLA There is no lack of information coming out from the territory, but confusion reigns. |
Passed through Mali back in June (entered from Guinea), everything was normal in Bamako. Stayed at the Sleeping Camel for 5 days while we sorted visas for Burkina. Strong police presence on the roads but for the best part they were friendly and professional.
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BBC News - Mali Islamists take strategic town of Douentza
Douentza is 200km south of Tim, so not such good news at all for 'mainland' Mali. |
"It is no secret that there is military planning going on. The EU is conducting a scoping mission and looking to send a training team to help train the Malian army.
France to send drones to Mali in fight against al-Qaida-backed insurgents | World news | guardian.co.uk |
and Germany planning on sending advisers/trainers etc.
Can you imagine the mess on the ground? AQIM & co will be making plans themselves of course. Human shields amongst them. |
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I had hoped to go to Timbuktu at some point but that is obviously delayed for the foreseeable future. I just hope the planned trip to Germany from Sierra Leone next spring will be OK. Mauritania is the one to watch for that trip for me. |
Talked with Mali embassy in Germany today. I am planning to drive from Senegal through Southern Mali to Burkina Faso in start of december. they said; NO PROBLEM. they are expecting war but they sounded sure that south will be "war free zone" :)
hopefully :):thumbup1: |
My guess, p4jk, is that the Embassy is right, you'll be fine although what the Embassy knows about the impending war is likely to be sketchy.
Remember how far south the kidnapping group travelled in Niger - all the way to Dakoro - to fetch their 5 captives earlier this month. Some caution on your behalf won't do any harm. |
France are placing Harfang surveillance drones in Niger
Dakoro kidnappers are said to still be hiding in northern Niger Malian army killed 6 or 7 tuareg herders the other day near Nere Malian army has 2000 men in Sevaré but they are not organized or equipped for fighting There's a worrying push of jihadists into Dogon territory (Koro) Inhabitants are returning to Gao from exile - they are getting paid by Qatar funds, a nurse now making twice as much as before the rebellion Qatar thus supporting the jihadists Algeria sending supplies of fuel, food and medicin Since islamists abolished most taxes, parts of the local economy is booming But how long will it last? Some reading Mali: The day the music stopped Analyses - Wahhabism | PBS |
The plans for the show-down in northern Mali are hotting up with an expansion of troops from 3200 to 5500 (see Plans for bigger military force in Mali | News24).
The 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) and representatives from South Africa, Mauritania, Morocco, Libya, Algeria are planning the military campaign in N Mali. To be frank, I couldn't imagine an approach more disposed to maximising bloodshed and confusion than this. Trying to recapture half of a large country by committee strikes me as properly misguided. How many of the 5500 will know what they are doing? How will the comms operate? How many of these guys have worked alongside each other before? How many of them will go home in a box? Unhappy chapter this for Mali. I would stay well away right now. |
I was at the annual FCO Sahel security meeting the other day.
Short version: it will get worse before it gets better. One interesting observation was made: now they run the region the jihadists move freely in the towns of Gao, Kidal and Tim among what civilian population remains. This makes it much harder to fight them (if that is the plan) - more like Iraq than Rommel v Monty. A year ago I imagine AQIM etc were mostly based out in desert camps which may have been easier to target without wrecking the place and other collateral damage. Ch |
Just back from Mali. Got as far as Mopti. No Tuareg left there. They are afraid for genocide when Ecowas will intervene. 400.000 refugees. That's more than Syria I think. Or not ? I wonder if there will really be an intervention.
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And how is the mood now in Mopti and surroudings?
RR. |
Roro: Most blacks I spoke are fed up with the Tuareg. 'They are always causing problems." They want foreign intervention and kick them out of most towns in the north, confident that Ecowas will side with the blacks in Mali against the white Tuaregs. "They can live in Kidal but not in Gao and Timbuktu.' So the Tuareg have reason to be afraid. That's why so many fled abroad. But for the moment Mopti is quiet. Many paramilitary groups, that are preparing to help Ecowas. But not a lot of army moving around, and not many checkpoints.
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In Bamako they are calling touaregs 'cafards'. Cockroaches. Brings memories of Rwanda.
Romano Prodi, who is now UN special envoy to Sahel, says there can't be any military intervention before September, 2013. It will take time, if they aim to rebuild the malian army for the mission. There will be a long period of insecurity then, and it may affect neighbouring countries in a very negative way. Nord-Mali : une intervention pas possible avant septembre 2013, selon Romano Prodi | Jeuneafrique Edit: now he said that something could happen in six months, but a full scale intervention will take a year. |
As Ansar Dine finally said they would not support terrorists, MNLA has fought MUJAO in Menaka and Ansongo. Ansar Dine stays passive.
Touareg rebels vow terror crackdown (Magharebia.com) "Last week's clashes between terrorist groups and secular Touareg rebels in northern Mali ...were only the start of a long war against smuggling, terrorists and organised crime gangs in Azawad, Ibrahim Ag Assaleh, a leading MNLA figure and member of the group's political bureau, told Magharebia Wednesday evening. ... Analysts have said the new MNLA action in northern Mali reflects a desire by the group to play a role in combating terrorism in the region." It is worrysome that malian forces are supposed to lead the coming intervention when (like always) they see touaregs as the main enemy. There is even vocal support in Bamako for MUJAO vs. touareg rebels. And reports of Malian army collaborating with AQIM/MUJAO. |
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