Northern Mali "free for terrorism", according to Mauritanian President
Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, said that northern Mali, had been prey since January to fighting between Tuareg rebels and military and is "an area left free for terrorism", in an interview in Le Monde dated Friday.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Northern-Mali-f...
"Sure," the rebellion "is a concern" for Mauritania, says President Abdel Aziz who explained that there are two movements, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and Iyad Ag Ghali, who "has forged alliances with terrorist groups." AFP reports.
"The north of Mali is an area left behind and almost free for terrorism. That's where they stay and it is from there that the terrorist acts and gets paid ransoms that increase," said the Mauritanian President.
"These terrorists are on a desert strip of 300 km and they source fuel and food from three or four known cities including Timbuktu and Gao," he said.
After the conflict in Libya "we are confident that the terrorists are very well equipped," he adds.
"In August, at the border, our air force destroyed a vehicle equipped with a surface to air missile. Armaments from Libya, were distributed haphazardly, into the hands of anyone. Units defending Gaddafi left Libya to Niger or Mali with their weapons. But our borders were already closed, "he notes.
Referring to the Tamanraset military operational center of the common fight against terrorism in Algeria, Mali, Niger and Mauritania, Abdel Aziz explains they have to wait "to go concrete." "We think it is the responsibility of states to curb this scourge," he notes. "I do not criticize others but we can not have security in Mauritania without proper coordination."
"The north of Mali is an area left behind and almost free for terrorism. That's where they stay and it is from there that the terrorist acts and gets paid ransoms that increase," said the Mauritanian President.
"These terrorists are on a desert strip of 300 km and they source fuel and food from three or four known cities including Timbuktu and Gao," he said.
After the conflict in Libya "we are confident that the terrorists are very well equipped," he adds.
"In August, at the border, our air force destroyed a vehicle equipped with a surface to air missile. Armaments from Libya, were distributed haphazardly, into the hands of anyone. Units defending Gaddafi left Libya to Niger or Mali with their weapons. But our borders were already closed, "he notes.
Referring to the Tamanraset military operational center of the common fight against terrorism in Algeria, Mali, Niger and Mauritania, Abdel Aziz explains they have to wait "to go concrete." "We think it is the responsibility of states to curb this scourge," he notes. "I do not criticize others but we can not have security in Mauritania without proper coordination."
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/Northern-Mali-f...