The article chosen for our blog today concerns the news in Mali. On Sunday August 13, the Malian Armed Forces (FAMA) and their Russian auxiliaries from the Wagner group took control of the Ber military camp, located in the Timbuktu region. This camp was previously occupied by the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and was handed over to the Malian authorities as part of their departure from the country.
However, this handover was contested by the ex-rebels of the Coordination of Movements of Azawad (CMA), signatories of the 2015 peace agreement. According to them, the arrival of Malian and Russian forces in Ber constitutes a violation of the 2014 ceasefire and the security arrangements established in the peace agreement. They consider this action an aggression and have warned that they will retaliate if the Malian forces do not withdraw.
Clashes between the Malian army and the CMA have already been reported in Ber, and sources indicate that airstrikes have been carried out on positions held by the ex-rebels. For their part, the leaders of the CMA believe that the actions of the government make the peace agreement obsolete and ask that Bamako take its responsibilities before History.
The communication of the Malian government concerning these events was also criticized by the CMA. In its statement, the Malian army does not mention the CMA, but speaks only of “armed terrorist groups”. The ex-rebels believe that this aims to assimilate the CMA to jihadist groups, which will not work.
While the situation remains tense in Ber, international mediation and the Malian authorities have not yet reacted. The ex-rebels continue to observe the movements of the Malian army to define their strategy.
This article highlights the ongoing tensions in Mali and the serious consequences this could have on the 2015 peace agreement. The situation in Ber illustrates the challenges the country faces in achieving true stability and reconciliation. It will be interesting to follow the evolution of this situation and to see what will be the next actions taken to resolve this crisis