The signing of the peace agreement in Burkina Faso has been put on hold, pending a consensus.
The Malian government was yesterday, June 12, 2013 said to be ready to sign a peace deal with Tuareg rebels in the north provided some changes were made to the document, the AFP news agency quoted a government source as saying.
The source said they were ready to sign the peace deal yesterday if the rebels took into account some proposed adjustments that would not distort the original text. The comments came as the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS mediators in neighbouring Burkina Faso worked hard to seal a deal paving the way for the conflict-torn country to hold elections on July 28, including in the rebel-held city of Kidal.
Tuareg rebels had earlier on Tuesday, June 11, 2013 announced their readiness to sign the agreement. According to Mahmadou Djeri Maiga, chairman of the joint negotiating team of the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, MNLA and High Council for the Unity of Azawad, HCUA, the draft agreement was the best they could get for now. Radio France Internationale, RFI quoted him as restating their readiness to support the international community in working for the total resolution of the conflict.
Both MNLA and HCUA rebels want autonomy for their northern Tuareg homeland known as Azawad. The MNLA that controls the key northern town of Kidal has been reluctant to let government troops return to secure the planned July 28 presidential ballot. The election is seen as a key step in Mali's recovery from a crisis that saw Al-Qaeda-linked groups take over the northern half of the country for nine months, following the March 22, 2012 coup.
The draft peace agreement proposes a gradual return of the Malian army to Kidal and the quartering of rebel troops. It also suggests that French and UN troops in the country could supervise the Malian military's operations to assuage Tuareg fears of reprisals by government forces. Rights groups have warned against the risk of retaliatory action by pro-government troops who blame the Tuareg rebellion for last year's disastrous scenario that saw Al Qaeda groups impose a deadly brand of Islamic law in areas under their control.
