The chiefs of the Coordination of Azawad Movements (CMA) made a media appearance on Monday May 29 to discuss the peace and reconciliation agreement resulting from the Algiers process and to situate responsibilities in relation to the blocking points.
This appearance comes six days after the letter sent by Ahmed Boutache, chairman of the agreement’s follow-up committee to the CMA, which he accuses of causing blockages in the implementation of the peace agreement. Boutache notably called on the ex-rebels to immediately release Kidal Camp I, which is to serve as a base for the soldiers of the Operational Coordination Mechanism (MOC).
According to Almou Ag Mohamed of the CMA, “discussions were in progress and a compromise was about to be found at the time that this famous letter of Mr. Boutache came”. This camp, he continues, is located at a strategic entrance to the city of Kidal and if the CMA has to release it, it must ensure that this position is well secured because any type of threat can reach the city from this access.
“We saw what happened in Gao and we do not want it to happen again in Kidal. Our concern for the time being is between the moment of release and the establishment of the MOC. We know that if the CMA frees the camp right away, the MOC will not automatically be put in place”, Almou noted.
Two years after the signing of the peace agreement, the Coordination believes that the process is progressing tentatively. “We managed to put the interim authorities in place. We were able to move towards a beginning of normalization in terms of mixed patrols. At the Gao camp, the FAMa, the CMA, the Platform live in perfect symbiosis, there is no difference. In the coming days, we will set up the Kidal MOC, Timbuktu, etc. The DDR is working all tentatively. We believe that there must be a strong political will on the part of the government so that this agreement can go more quickly”, said Ilad Ag Mohamed, spokesman for the CMA.
With regard to the establishment of the interim authorities, he added that there was no blocking. “They were asked to develop their action plan with the goal to be operational. We are at this level so it’s not very complicated”.
The CMA said that it was awaiting the application of Article 63 of the Agreement. This involves the appointment of an independent observer to assess the status of implementation of the Agreement.
“The terms of reference are elaborated. We have an idea of who will be an independent observer so that from now on we will know who is at fault with the implementation of the agreement, which is really hampering its implementation and what measure to put in place for that party to stop blocking the agreement. We are very much awaiting this provision’’, Ilad said.