Algeria, the northern neighbor, will stand up with Mali to the threats that hamper the transition, according to a position taken by President Tebboune. The two countries also share a long-standing friendship.
"There is a will to sabotage the Algiers accords," said Abdelmadjid Tebboune. The Algerian president has made known for a few days the position of his state vis-à-vis the latest coup in Mali. In a statement from Algerian diplomacy, the government condemned the arrest of Bah N'Daw and Moctar Ouane, but declared its support for the Malian transitional authorities.
On the occasion ofan interview with Tebboune at Le Point media, some details have been explained regarding this support. Indeed, a military collaboration unites Mali with Algeria. In addition, Algeria mediated the peace process in Mali between the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) and the government in 2015.
The CMA had recently announced its concern the discontinuity of the Algiers Accord under the new government. Nevertheless, President Assimi Goïta and Prime Minister Choguel Maïga received a delegation from the CMA yesterday. The crisis was therefore avoided.
Since the start of the Malian transition in September 2020, Algeria strengthened peace between the CMA and the Malian junta. However, this peace will not be a vector for the partition of Mali. This is understood by both Tebboune and Assimi Goïta, according to statements by the two heads of state.
Algeria and Mali, the perfect allies
Asked by journalists about the possible withdrawal of French forces in Mali, Tebboune said that military intervention is only part of the solution. According to him, the reconstruction of Mali does not pass only through a program of fight against terrorism. He also believes that Algeria has a duty to help its neighbors.
According to the Algerian president, the "G5 was created to counter the Cemoc". The staff which included Algeria, Mali and other African countries, has long been overlooked by the G5. Gold the G5 acts under the command of Takuba and Barkhane. However, Tebboune also believes that the Cemoc was better endowed than the G5, especially in terms of resources.
Facing possible withdrawal of the French army, Tebboune promises a replacement, and better. According to him, the French military intervention was not effective in Mali. He said: “The solution is not there. To solve the problem in Mali, the State must be redeployed there ”.
Indeed, Abdelmadjid Tebboune underlines the errors of France in the fight against terrorism in Mali. Barkhane do not collaborate with the Malian state. And even came to inform the government of its bombings and raids after the fact. Except that the Malian government did not have time to reinstall state forces in areas free from terrorists.
For its part, Algeria succeeded in imposing a peace agreement between the CMA and Bamako in 2015. It also supported the peace of the circle of Niono. The Algerian armed forces also operate on common borders and had long protected Mali from a surge of al-Qaeda, unconditionally. With Mali which has seen its list of allies shrink for the past few days, having such support from a neighboring country would be an advantage.
#Tebboune says: no solution to #Mali without Algeria, ECOWAS did not consult Algeria, the latter did not consult the # Cédéao no more. He adds: the north of Mali is the extension of Algeria, without it no application of the peace agreements. The tone is harsh indeed https://t.co/YFiijQOXaL
- Lemine OULD M. SALEM (@lemineoms) September 22, 2020