Quote:
Originally Posted by gvdaa
But who are the local "contractors" for AQIM. I suppose it must be some Touareg. Or not?
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That is what the Mali and Niger governments wants you to believe,
Tuareg = bandit
Serves political purposes.
While certainly not all touareg abide by the law, I prefer not to pass on what is part of a dirty political game.
I would like all who travel the desert and write about it to be aware of this.
When talking with touaregs about this very old subject of who is doing what in the desert, they say that the role of the touareg is generally that of the camel conductor, guide, driver, etc. The one who actually owns the merchandise on the camels' backs is not a touareg.
Then there is the question: who is a touareg? Some are of mixed descent, say touareg mother and arab father.
So it is a complex topic.
Perhaps the kidnappings are indeed carried out by touaregs selling them on as any merchandise to the Aqim.
This is how the Canadian kidnapping in Niger was presented. As Fowler got to tell the story, there were no touaregs involved.
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