Subscribe free to our newsletters via your
. Africa News .




AFRICA NEWS
Mali rebels hopeful of 'decisive' meeting on peace deal
by Staff Writers
Bamako (AFP) March 17, 2015


Mali's Tuareg-led rebels voiced hope Tuesday that their next meeting with international mediators would prove "decisive" for a peace deal that has been stalled for months.

The Algiers Agreement, hammered out over eight months of tough negotiations, aims to bring a lasting peace to a sprawling area of northern desert that the rebels refer to as "Azawad".

It has been signed by Mali's government and smaller armed groups but the rebel alliance -- in meetings with its members in the northern Tuareg stronghold of Kidal since Wednesday last week -- has asked for more time to consider the offer.

But a rebel spokesman, speaking after talks with European Union and African diplomats in Kidal on Tuesday, said the "meeting went off very well."

"The next meeting between us and the mediators will be decisive for the signing of the accord," said Mohamed Ag Arib from the High Council for the Unity of Azawad.

He did not give a date or venue but said many of the rebel demands on "institutional, political, defence and security" matters had been outlined to the mediators.

Divided into rival armed factions, plagued by drug trafficking and at the mercy of jihadism, Mali's desert north has struggled for stability since the west African nation gained independence in 1960.

The militant Tuareg movement has launched four uprisings since 1962 to fight Mali's army over the territory they claim as their homeland.

Ministers and various rebel groups, mostly Tuareg but also including Arab organisations, are seeking to resolve a decades-old conflict that created a power vacuum in the desert that was exploited by Al-Qaeda.

The rebels had earlier Monday called for "recognition and compensation by the state of Mali for the crimes committed since 1963 in Azawad" and "recognition of Azawad as a political, legal and territorial entity".

The Algiers Agreement uses the name "Azawad" to refer to northern Mali, but does not give the designation any specific political significance.

In spring 2012 northern Mali fell under the control of jihadist groups linked to Al-Qaeda, who took advantage of the confusion caused by a military coup to impose a brutal interpretation of sharia on the region.

The Islamists were largely ousted by a French-led military operation launched in January 2013, although they have since launched sporadic attacks from desert hideouts on security forces.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
Africa News - Resources, Health, Food






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle




Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News





AFRICA NEWS
Mali rebels ask to meet mediators to improve peace deal
Bamako (AFP) March 16, 2015
Mali's Tuareg-led rebels called Monday for a meeting with Algerian mediators to "improve" a proposed peace deal with the government in Bamako, describing the accord as a "good basis" for progress. The Algiers Agreement, hammered out over eight months of tough negotiations, aims to bring a lasting peace to a sprawling area of northern desert that the rebels refer to as "Azawad". It has be ... read more


AFRICA NEWS
Understanding plants' immune systems could lead to better tomatoes

'Low risk' bird flu outbreak at Dutch farm: official

Dartmouth-led team identifies circadian clock gene that strengthens crop plant

Early herders' grassy route through Africa

AFRICA NEWS
Research finds oceanic microbes behave in a synchrony across oceans

Frequency of tornadoes, hail linked to El Nino, La Nina

Naturally acidic waters of Puget Sound surround UW's Friday Harbor Labs

Russia Inks Major Ore Exploration Deal with International Seabed Authority

AFRICA NEWS
New carbon accounting method proposed

Obama: Republicans will change views on climate

Kerry urges nations to back Paris climate change talks

Evolving to cope with climate change

AFRICA NEWS
Polish Power Exchange hosts 18th AFM Annual Conference

Reducing emissions with a more effective carbon capture method

China to further streamline energy layout amid "new normal"

Where you live could mean 'greener' alternatives do more harm than good

AFRICA NEWS
CT scanning shows why tilting trees produce better biofuel

Bioelectrochemical processes have the potential to one day replace petrochemistry

Biofuel proteomics

Miscanthus-based ethanol boasts higher profits

AFRICA NEWS
Fears for food supplies in Vanuatu as capital cleans up

Help us rebuild, Vanuatu president urges world

Women are key in tackling disaster: UN officials

14 million children pay price for Syria, Iraq conflicts: UNICEF

AFRICA NEWS
Nutrient pollution reduces ability to support aquatic life in waterways

China 'falling short' on fighting pollution: premier

Ancient Mongol metallurgy an extreme polluter

Concern over India plan to stop publishing smog data

AFRICA NEWS
Merkel urges closer tech ties with rising IT giant China

Beijing welcomes Britain's move to join China-backed bank: govt

Commodities mostly drop on soaring dollar, China woes

Australian miners brace for more pain as China slows




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2014 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement All images and articles appearing on Space Media Network have been edited or digitally altered in some way. Any requests to remove copyright material will be acted upon in a timely and appropriate manner. Any attempt to extort money from Space Media Network will be ignored and reported to Australian Law Enforcement Agencies as a potential case of financial fraud involving the use of a telephonic carriage device or postal service.