The Republic of Azawad - a new country in Africa / War in Mali

[C. Flower]

The militarisation and balkanisation of Africa seems to be proceeding rapidly, with "Al Qaida" acting as a pretext across the continent, and with spillout from the Libyan regime change destabilising surrounding states.

The leader of the coup which ended 20 years of democracy in Mali last Thursday was US trained, and the US has a military presence in Mali that seems to have done nothing to defend this democracy. The US has however condemned the coup.

Many people in Europe know Mali best for its annual rock festival, and its Tuareg rock musicians, some of whom have played in Ireland.

Reporting from Alan Boswell of McClatchy.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/03/2...k=omni_popular


http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/03/2...k=omni_popular


http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2011/10/11/126910/with-gadhafi-on-the-run-focus.html

President Amadou Toumani Toure was due to step down ahead of elections slated for April 29.
But events in the country took a sharp turn downhill after the conflict in Libya last year sent thousands of restless nomadic Tuareg tribesmen, whose Sahara Desert homeland stretches across the borders of five countries, spilling back into Mali's marginalized desert north, laden with weapons and military experience from having served in the Libyan army.

In a rebellion that began in January, the Tuareg from Libya quickly took ground against the Malian army. The Malian troops complained they did not have enough arms to counter the northern rebellion, and the young officers who took power seem to have tired of Toure's rhetoric of reconciliation, and his government's inability to impose control on the wild north.
In a televised statement, the military officers representing the country's new rulers said they were "putting an end to the incompetent regime of Amadou Toumani Toure."
The U.S. and the pan-continental African Union immediately condemned the move, which robbed the West of a rare example of a democratic transfer of power in Africa. Toure, who is believed to be alive and in hiding, was finishing his second term as president. The constitution did not allow him to run for a third term, but unlike some of his peers, the Malian leader never attempted to rewrite the books to hang onto power.
The U.S. stands "with the legitimately elected government," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said in a statement, while Jean Ping, the commission chair of the African Union, said the military takeover "constitutes a significant setback for Mali."

The timing also raises questions about the motives of the coup leaders and whether they intend to return power to civilians after elections, as they claimed.
"It is quite surprising to have a military coup just before an election in which the president was stepping down," said Gilles Yabi, an analyst for the International Crisis Group, a Brussels-based group that studies conflicts around the world. "I understand the mutineers have no clear plan on what to do with power now."

Read more here: http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2012/03/2...#storylink=cpy

[antiestablishmentarian]

I'm not surprised by that revelation, but I'm unsure whether it has any bearing on the politics behind this coup. I mean, it's not as if francophone Africa has not experienced such upheavals in the past independently of the US.

[Griska]

Interview with Firoze Manji, formerly of Amnesty.
He discusses the conditions imposed by the IMF and world bank which have resulted in political unrest among African people who see their natural resources taken by multi-national corporations.


http://www.democracynow.org/2012/4/9...e_independence

[C. Flower]

Since the coup, there has been a Tuareg takeover of the northern region.

A lot of instability in Africa still stems from the carve up into states agreed by the colonial powers. It was a share out of resources, and split up tribal, ethnic and historic regions along straight lines that severed all the natural connections.

[Sam Lord]

There has been very little in the media about the establishment in recent months of the The Republic of Azawad, covering an area the size of France, in what was previously northern Mali.

The new republic was declared following the rout of soldiers of the Mali government from the area by the Tuaregs. This was followed by an agreement being reached between the two rebel groups doing the fighting - the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and an Islamic fundamentalist outfit called Ansar Eddine (which is affiliated to Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb - some say identical to) - on the formation of a government.

Ansar Eddine is led by a Tuareg, Iyad ag Ghali, but is apparently mainly comprised of arabs and other Jihadists from all over the place. It seems to have unlimited access to money and weapons. The MNLA, on the other hand, is an avowedly secular organisation.

The compromise between the two groups reportedly has been that Ansar Eddine would accept full independence (previously they had only stood for autonomy) while the MNLA has agreed to an Islamic state. This apparently has not gone down too well with many MNLA supporters.

The new Republic is the 33rd largest country in the world. It's national anthem has much to recommend it particulary some rocking electric guitar.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNjz3WswuL0"]National Anthem of the Republic of Azawad - YouTube[/ame]

Observers are anticipating western intervention to crush the new republic in the very near future. Most likely by France. The Foreign Legion should be used to the terrain.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iyad_Ag_Ghaly

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationa...tion_of_Azawad

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansar_Dine

[Binn Beal]

With that anthem, the Riffs must also be involved.

[Sam Lord]

There are reports of a falling out between the MLNA and Ansar Eddine and of fighting between them.

http://news.yahoo.com/tuareg-rebels-...095606259.html

[Sam Lord]

Military intervention on the way.

BAMAKO, Mali - African leaders met in the capital of the troubled nation of Mali on Friday to prepare their plan for a military intervention to take back the nation's north, which was overrun by al-Qaida-linked rebels six months ago.

The high-level meeting comes after the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution last week which gives Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon 45 days to help Mali develop a detailed plan to recover the occupied territory. The United States, France and Britain have said they will offer logistical support, but the invasion needs to be led by African troops, and representatives from the nations bordering Mali were meeting to discuss the details.

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Afr...609/story.html

[fluffybiscuits]

Military intervention on the way.



http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Afr...609/story.html

Why do we hear so little about this in the main stream media?

[Sam Lord]

Statement of the communist parties of Benin and Burkino Faso on the situation in Mali and the region. Please excuse the terrible (google) translation.

DECLARATION CONJOINTE PCB – PCRV JOINT STATEMENT PCB - PCRV

On the situation of the West African sub-region and Mali

With the crisis in the capitalist system, the worst since 1929, the rivalry between the great imperialist powers for a redivision of the world are exacerbated, they extend special to the African continent, the object of their desires as well as those new actors such as China, India, Brazil, etc..

Thus, since 2010, the West African sub-region and particularly the Sahel-Saharan region is marked by interference and military intervention by imperialist powers under the guise of "struggle against terrorism", the largest cross-border banditry, the drug traffickers, etc..

In reality the real issues of the interference and military intervention by major imperialist powers are:

- - Political, geostrategic and military relationship with the struggle for the redivision of the world and the African continent:

- - Economic (access to oil in the Gulf of Guinea, Niger's uranium and precious metals abound in the sub-region, solar energy, cocoa, coffee, etc.).

- - The struggle of the imperialist Anglo-Saxon countries (USA, UK) and French against penetration in the sub-region of new players such as China, India, Brazil, etc..

- - The desire of the imperialist powers to stifle any kind of protest of the masses forced into misery and suffering from lack of political freedom and repression exerted on them by corrupt powers, their willingness to crush any revolutionary movement insurgency.

The politico-military crisis in Mali, characterized by chaotic management and mafia regime ATT, the secession of Northern countries and the military coup of CNRDRE (National Committee recovery, protection and restoration of State) on 22 March 2012, the military occupation since January 2012 in northern Mali by MNLA and jihadists (AQIM Ansar Dine Mujao, Boko Haram, etc..) are in this overall context.

The politico-military crisis in Mali has serious consequences for neighboring countries (including Côte d'Ivoire, Algeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Mauritania) and all the countries of the West African sub-region (destabilization of states, proliferation of massive displacement of populations to the south of Mali and also hundreds of thousands of refugees in neighboring countries).

This crisis caused Malian although covertly by the French imperialist powers in particular proves its consequences as local and regional a threat to the interests of imperialism, particularly French in Mali and in the sub-region. Where maneuvers preparing a military intervention that opened in Mali must lead the troops provided by the member countries of ECOWAS and the AU with the logistical support of the great powers (USA, France, EU), UN and NATO under the pretext of securing the transition to "restore constitutional life", "to restore the territorial integrity of Mali" and "fight against terrorism".

The two parties: the Communist Party of Benin and the Voltaic Revolutionary Communist Party stated that this is a plan of the reactionary imperialist powers and their allies in the sub-region to maintain and strengthen their rule.

Faced with this serious and fraught with dangers for the proletariat and the peoples of Mali and other countries in the sub-region of West Africa, the PCB and the PCRV:

1) Denounce the presence of foreign troops imperialist aggression West Africa, particularly in the Sahel-Saharan and demand their departure.

2) Condemn the puppet authorities have opened their territories to the troops (including Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Niger, Senegal, Mauritania)

3) Condemn the plan reactionary ECOWAS, the AU and the French imperialists including sending troops to the member countries of ECOWAS and the AU in Mali.

4) Condemn the adventurist policy and criminal mafia clan Blaise Compaoré, who represents a danger for the proletariat and the peoples of Mali, Burkina Faso and the entire sub-region of West Africa. Denounce and condemn the policy go away-war Boni Yayi, Chairman of the African Union, voice of French and American imperialist aggressors and strong supporter of military intervention in Mali.

. 5) Condemn the proclamation of the independence of the State of AZAWAD the MNLA as the manifestation of a plot by French imperialism against the peoples of Mali in order to divide and enslave and exploit . Call on revolutionary Mali to ensure the implementation of a national policy just allowing each Malian (whatever his nationality, race, origins) to feel comfortable in a unified and independent Mali) as in all African countries, the national question arises and needs to be treated with great caution on the bases correct.

6) Support requirements strongly patriotic and democratic forces Malian who oppose any foreign intervention on their land and demand that Mali's own problems are resolved in full sovereignty by the people of Mali itself without foreign interference.

7) Denounce and condemn the crimes committed against the peoples of northern Mali by AQIM terrorist group, the MNLA and jihadist groups Ansar Dine MUJAO. Support the courageous resistance of the people especially the youth against oppression and medieval policies of the reactionary and obscurantist groups.

. 8) Reaffirm their opposition to terrorism and putschism not the channels indicated for the revolution and the establishment of socialism.

9) To undertake on the basis of proletarian internationalism to

- - Work to mobilize and organize the proletariat and the peoples of their respective countries (Benin, Burkina Faso) to fight against the intervention of foreign troops in Mali to demand the departure of the West African troops assault major powers (France-USA-EU)

- - . Support in multifaceted ways the proletariat and the peoples of Mali in the difficult situation they know.

- - Initiating an appeal to the proletariat, the people, the democratic and revolutionary forces in the imperialist countries to oppose the military intervention of the imperialist countries Mali, for they show solidarity with the struggle of the proletariat and peoples of Mali and the entire sub-region West Africa.




Fait à Cotonou le 10 Décembre 2012. Done at Cotonou on 10 December 2012.


Parti Communiste du Bénin (PCB) Communist Party of Benin (PCB)

Parti Communiste Révolutionnaire Voltaïque (PCRV, Burkina Faso) Revolutionary Communist Party of Upper Volta (PCRV, Burkina Faso)

[C. Flower]

7) Denounce and condemn the crimes committed against the peoples of northern Mali by AQIM terrorist group, the MNLA and jihadist groups Ansar Dine MUJAO. Support the courageous resistance of the people especially the youth against oppression and medieval policies of the reactionary and obscurantist groups.

. 8) Reaffirm their opposition to terrorism and putschism not the channels indicated for the revolution and the establishment of socialism.

9) To undertake on the basis of proletarian internationalism to

- - Work to mobilize and organize the proletariat and the peoples of their respective countries (Benin, Burkina Faso) to fight against the intervention of foreign troops in Mali to demand the departure of the West African troops assault major powers (France-USA-EU)

- - . Support in multifaceted ways the proletariat and the peoples of Mali in the difficult situation they know.

- - Initiating an appeal to the proletariat, the people, the democratic and revolutionary forces in the imperialist countries to oppose the military intervention of the imperialist countries Mali, for they show solidarity with the struggle of the proletariat and peoples of Mali and the entire sub-region West Africa.

Deserve 100% support.

The extent of interference to balkanise and carve up Africa in the last year, and the set up of Africom, is outrageous. Boko Haram has all the hallmarks of a countergang/black op.

Number 6) reliance on "popular and democratic forces" only critically. The "democratic forces" all too often make a deal and sell out.

[C. Flower]

UN forces being sent in to Northern Mali.

France and the US most interested in this.

http://rt.com/news/line/2012-12-21/#id42120

[Sam Lord]

It appears that Asar Dine have pulled out of talks with the Malian government and ended their ceasefire. There are also reports that they are massing to attack the town of Mopti which I believe is the northernmost town still held by the Malian government. This would be a very significant move.



The situation in Mali is very complicated indeed. There are religious threads, ethnic threads and nationalist threads all intervoven. On top of that foreign intervention is being prepared through ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) with the support of western powers - France leading the pack.

This is my understanding of the main players:

In the opposition:

[1] The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) is the Tuareg movement which "liberated" northern Mali (with Islamist allies) last January and established the new state of Azawad. Over the summer, however, they fell out with the islamists and this led to fighting in which the MNLA was driven out of every town in Azawad. These have remained since then firmly in the control of the Islamists. The MNLA claims to still be in effective control of most of the territory of Azawad but I have no idea where they could actually be (other than the desert) and they have certainly been marginalised to all intents and purposes.

One of the problems for the MNLA (apart from a reputation for criminality) has been that the territory of the new state they proclaimed (Azawad) does not contain only Tuaregs. In the south of it, in particular, there would be Songhay, Fulani, etc. who were not in support of the dismemberment of Mali and living in a new Tuareg dominated state. The Islamists have exploited these contradictions to their advantage. Since falling out with the MLNA the Islamists have not supported Azawad and are for the unity of Mali. Their objective is to take over the entire country.

The Islamists are not a homogeneous mass by any stretch of the imagination though they do fight together. These are the main currents.

[ 1] Ansar Dine. They are Tuareg (mostly based on the Ifora tribe). They have been associated with the attacks on Sufi shrines in Timbuktu.

[2] Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. (AQIM) This group has a significant presence in Mali but is not really Malian at all with its membership mainly drawn from the Algerian Kabyle and the South Moroccan Sahrawi communities. Apart from Mali it operates (in the desert areas) across Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger and Tunisia.

[3] Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MOJWA). This is a split from AQIM. The reason for the split on the face of it is the intention of the MOJWA to take jihad into west africa which is beyond the area of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb. It is however a black african led group and there has been speculation that they did not sit too easily in the Algerian dominated AQIM.

[4] Ansar al-Sharia is an Islamist group from Azawad but they are not Tuareg but are from the the Arab Barabiche tribe from near Timbuktu

That is the insurgency. Standing against it is not only the Malian army but a number of militias which are being strengthened all the time. Prominent amongst these would be Ganda Koy and the Ganda Iso. These militias have been given some favourable coverage in the western media along the lines of "ordinary people stand up to Islamists" but one needs to be very wary of them. The Ganda Koy, for example, was formed in the 90s to counter an earlier Tuareg rebellion and become notorious for its atrocities and attacks on Tuareg and Arab civilians. There was without doubt a racist element to them. That this factor is in play is no doubt a disappointment to those who see the territorial integrity of Mali being maintained as a good thing for there have always been Tuaregs, Arabs, etc. who were prepared to fight for a secular united Mali and there would be many more if they felt that there was half a chance of being treated as equals in it.

[Sam Lord]

The advance on Mopti has been apparently halted by the Malian army with rocket fire.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013...slamist-rebels

[Sam Lord]

The Islamists have apparently taken Konna which is about 70Km from Mopti. The Malian army has withdrawn.