- from BBC News -
A rebel group in northern Mali has declared independence for a region it calls Azawad, after seizing control of the area late last month. The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) made the statement on its website, adding that it would respect other states’ borders.
The group is one of two rebel groups to have gained ground in the area after Mali’s government was ousted. Coup leaders took over in protest at the failure to stem the rebellion.
The declaration comes as rights group Amnesty International warned that Mali was on the brink of a major humanitarian disaster in the wake of the rebellion. It demanded that aid agencies be given immediate access to the country after days of looting, abduction and chaos in the northern towns of Gao, Kidal and the historic city of Timbuktu.
On Thursday the MNLA rebels declared a “unilateral” ceasefire after the UN Security Council called for an end to the fighting in Mali – and after it said it had secured territory.
A statement posted on the rebel website on Friday proclaimed independence, adding it would respect existing borders with neighbouring states and adhere to the UN Charter. The statement also called for recognition from the international community.
“We completely accept the role and responsibility that behoves us to secure this territory. We have ended a very important fight, that of liberation… now the biggest task commences,” rebel spokesman Mossa Ag Attaher is quoted as saying by the AFP news agency.
‘Islamist presence’ – However it is unclear which of several groups is actually in charge in northern Mali. The MNLA was formed last year, partly by well-armed Tuareg fighters returning from Libya, where they had backed former leader Muammar Gaddafi.
But the UN has voiced alarm at the presence of the Ansar Dine group amid the rebel forces, which has links to al-Qaeda and wants to impose Islamic law, or Sharia, across the whole of the West African state.
Unlike the MNLA, Ansar Dine is not in favour of an independent northern state. AFP reports that Islamist rebels have begun exerting control in parts of northern Mali.
Mali has been in disarray ever since the 22 March coup enabled rebels to secure territory in the north. People are continuing to flee the area and buses to the capital have been packed with people desperate to get out. Reports say the situation in the northern town of Gao, in rebel hands, is particularly tense.
The Algerian government also says seven of its staff were kidnapped by unknown gunmen in Gao. The consul and six colleagues were forced to leave their diplomatic mission at gunpoint.
The Algerian government says it is doing all it can to find them.
Mali’s borders have been closed to trade, the country’s access to funds at the central bank for the region’s common currency frozen and travel bans slapped on coup leaders and their supporters.
The coup and Tuareg rebellion have exacerbated a humanitarian crisis in Mali and some neighbouring countries, with aid agencies warning that 13 million people need food aid following a drought in the region.
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It is all good. The UN or AU should conduct a referendum and give the people what they want. No group should be forced to live in a forced or unjust union.
Good work by the Tuareg in dismantling another African country created by European Imperialists. Modern Mali was created by Europeans and not the MALIAN. Sooner or latter, all countries in Africa forcibly created by Europeans will distingrate and the people return to their former constituencies before White people set foot in Africa.
Eritrea, South Sudan and now AZWAD, many will soon follow such as Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa. Nigeria might give Africa 5 more countries, Democratic Republic of Congo, might give Africa, 10 more countries, Angola might give Africa, 1 more country and South Africa might give Africa 3 more countries, Sudan might give Africa 2 more countries, Tanzania might give Africa 2 more countries, and Ethiopia might give Africa 2 more countries
We anticipated by 2050, there will be 15 more countries in Africa. These emerging countries, will be regarded as countries created by Africans themselves.
We the people of Africa, will no longer be used to further economic interest of the West. We must dismantled the so-called African countries created by foreigners.