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Mali: Gov’t, Taureg nomads agree to end hostilities
Tue. July 22, 2008 08:18 am.- By Bonny Apunyu. -
(SomaliNet) In talks brokered by Algeria, Mali's government and Tuareg nomads fighting for greater autonomy have agreed to end their conflict.
"We have arrived at a series of decisions, including the necessity to end hostilities ... and the way to oversee the application of the ceasefire on the ground," Algerian ambassador Abdelkrim Ghrieb said at a press conference also attended by representatives of the Malian government and the Tuareg rebels in Algiers.
In a document, Mali government and the Taureg nomads sagreed "to end hostilities" and committed themselves to steps such as freeing hostages and prisoners by August 15 to ease tension on the ground in northern Mali.
The agreement came after three days of talks that were called after a recent flare-up in violence in the northeastern Kidal region that threatened a July 2006 peace accord.
The Tuareg are a nomadic people who have roamed the southern Sahara for centuries. In recent years they have staged uprisings, claiming autonomy, in Mali and neighbouring Niger.Among the goodwill gestures agreed to was the release of prisoners by both sides.
A fresh round of talks is planned for after August 15 to discuss a partial pull-out of Malian soldiers in the north and the dismantling of rebel bases there.
The talks are also to touch on ways to reintegrate former Tuareg rebels in civil society.
"The outcome is not a victory for one party and a defeat for another. What is important now is that everyone agrees to say that the hostilities are behind us," a source close to the talks said.-Cape Times
News Category: Africa
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