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Mali and Tuareg rebels sign peace deal | Mali and Tuareg rebels sign peace deal |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Mali's government has signed a peace deal with Tuareg rebels to help pave the way for elections next month. | Mali's government has signed a peace deal with Tuareg rebels to help pave the way for elections next month. |
The accord calls for an immediate ceasefire and for government troops to return to the rebel-held northern town of Kidal, officials said. | The accord calls for an immediate ceasefire and for government troops to return to the rebel-held northern town of Kidal, officials said. |
The rebels captured Kidal after a French-led offensive forced militant Islamists out of the town in January. | The rebels captured Kidal after a French-led offensive forced militant Islamists out of the town in January. |
The Tuaregs have been fighting for autonomy in the north since Mali gained independence from France in 1960. | The Tuaregs have been fighting for autonomy in the north since Mali gained independence from France in 1960. |
They say they are marginalised by the government in the capital, Bamako. | They say they are marginalised by the government in the capital, Bamako. |
French President Francois Hollande, announcing the deal after the G8 summit in Northern Ireland, said the agreement paved the way for a presidential election across Mali, including in Kidal. | |
'Secular state' | 'Secular state' |
The main rebel group which signed the accord, National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), had formed an alliance with al-Qaeda-linked militants to seize the north in 2012. | The main rebel group which signed the accord, National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA), had formed an alliance with al-Qaeda-linked militants to seize the north in 2012. |
But the alliance quickly crumbled, and the Islamists took control of the MNLA's strongholds. | But the alliance quickly crumbled, and the Islamists took control of the MNLA's strongholds. |
Government and MNLA negotiators reached the deal after nearly two weeks of talks brokered by Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore in the Burkina capital, Ouagadougou. | Government and MNLA negotiators reached the deal after nearly two weeks of talks brokered by Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore in the Burkina capital, Ouagadougou. |
The army had threatened to seize Kidal if no agreement was reached. | The army had threatened to seize Kidal if no agreement was reached. |
Malian government representative Tiebile Drame said the two sides had overcome their greatest differences. | Malian government representative Tiebile Drame said the two sides had overcome their greatest differences. |
"I think we can say that the biggest task is finished. We have agreed on the essentials," AP news agency quoted him as saying. | "I think we can say that the biggest task is finished. We have agreed on the essentials," AP news agency quoted him as saying. |
"There is an international consensus as well as a Malian consensus on the fundamental questions, which include the integrity of our territory, national unity, and the secular and republican nature of our state.'' | "There is an international consensus as well as a Malian consensus on the fundamental questions, which include the integrity of our territory, national unity, and the secular and republican nature of our state.'' |
MNLA spokesman Moussa Ag Attaher confirmed a deal had been reached. | MNLA spokesman Moussa Ag Attaher confirmed a deal had been reached. |
"The MNLA and the High Council for the Azawad [the rebel name for northern Mali] have given everything for peace and so we accept this accord,'' AP quoted him as saying. | "The MNLA and the High Council for the Azawad [the rebel name for northern Mali] have given everything for peace and so we accept this accord,'' AP quoted him as saying. |
The UN is due to deploy a 12,600-strong peacekeeping force before planned elections on 28 July, which will incorporate thousands of West African troops already in the country in support of the French intervention. | The UN is due to deploy a 12,600-strong peacekeeping force before planned elections on 28 July, which will incorporate thousands of West African troops already in the country in support of the French intervention. |
The elections will be the first in Mali since the military staged a coup in 2012, accusing the government of failing to end the conflict in the north. | The elections will be the first in Mali since the military staged a coup in 2012, accusing the government of failing to end the conflict in the north. |
However, the Islamists and Tuareg rebels took advantage of the ensuing chaos in Bamako to capture more territory. | However, the Islamists and Tuareg rebels took advantage of the ensuing chaos in Bamako to capture more territory. |
France intervened in January after the Islamists advanced southwards, raising fears that they intended to seize the capital. | France intervened in January after the Islamists advanced southwards, raising fears that they intended to seize the capital. |
It plans to gradually hand over to the Malian army and a UN peacekeeping force before presidential and parliamentary elections are held. | It plans to gradually hand over to the Malian army and a UN peacekeeping force before presidential and parliamentary elections are held. |
The Tuareg in Mali say they face discrimination because they are light-skinned and have been neglected by the government in far-off Bamako. | The Tuareg in Mali say they face discrimination because they are light-skinned and have been neglected by the government in far-off Bamako. |
The MNLA has watered down its demand for independence, saying it will settle, as a first step, for autonomy. | The MNLA has watered down its demand for independence, saying it will settle, as a first step, for autonomy. |