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| Mali signs UN ceasefire to end conflict with northern rebels | Mali signs UN ceasefire to end conflict with northern rebels |
| (about 2 months later) | |
| The Malian government has signed a ceasefire deal with rebels in a bid to end long-running unrest in the country's north. | The Malian government has signed a ceasefire deal with rebels in a bid to end long-running unrest in the country's north. |
| As part of a UN-sponsored peace process, both sides agreed to an "immediate cessation" of hostilities. | As part of a UN-sponsored peace process, both sides agreed to an "immediate cessation" of hostilities. |
| The deal was signed during talks that began in Algeria on Monday. | The deal was signed during talks that began in Algeria on Monday. |
| French and African troops intervened in Mali in January 2013 to stop the southern advance of al-Qaeda-linked fighters on the capital, Bamako. | French and African troops intervened in Mali in January 2013 to stop the southern advance of al-Qaeda-linked fighters on the capital, Bamako. |
| They were eventually expelled from towns across the north, but both nomadic Tuareg rebels and other Islamist militant groups have remained active. | They were eventually expelled from towns across the north, but both nomadic Tuareg rebels and other Islamist militant groups have remained active. |
| The deal signed on Thursday was agreed between the Malian government and an alliance of six armed groups. | The deal signed on Thursday was agreed between the Malian government and an alliance of six armed groups. |
| According to the terms of the truce, both sides agreed to "tackle the causes of lasting tensions in the region", the AFP news agency reported. | According to the terms of the truce, both sides agreed to "tackle the causes of lasting tensions in the region", the AFP news agency reported. |
| Rebels are seeking more autonomy for the north, a region they call Azawad. | Rebels are seeking more autonomy for the north, a region they call Azawad. |
| Mali's leaders have rejected autonomy but say they are willing to consider devolved local powers. | Mali's leaders have rejected autonomy but say they are willing to consider devolved local powers. |
| The agreement to cease hostilities was the last chance to save the Algiers talks. It came after the United Nations security council threatened Arab and Tuareg rebels and pro-government militias with sanctions. | The agreement to cease hostilities was the last chance to save the Algiers talks. It came after the United Nations security council threatened Arab and Tuareg rebels and pro-government militias with sanctions. |
| The talks in Algiers, already in their fifth round, have lost meaning amid intensifying fighting in the past few months. Forty UN peacekeepers have lost their lives in northern Mali - most of them since the talks began in July 2014. | The talks in Algiers, already in their fifth round, have lost meaning amid intensifying fighting in the past few months. Forty UN peacekeepers have lost their lives in northern Mali - most of them since the talks began in July 2014. |
| The test of the truce will be whether it is respected on the ground even though none of the fighting parties have been disarmed. | The test of the truce will be whether it is respected on the ground even though none of the fighting parties have been disarmed. |