A Malian expert's view of the conflict
In an interview with the Algerian daily El Watan, on Wednesday,.Modibo Goïta, Executive Advisor for training schools of the Malian army, spoke on the sensitive points of the situation in northern Mali, including on the role played by Algeria and the business of its diplomats held hostage by Mujao.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/A-Malian-expert...
Regarding the identity of the terrorist group Mujao (Movement for the uniqueness and Jihad in West Africa) the expert believes that " Mujao has emerged as a terrorist group, in 2012, taking hostages in the Sahara. It is characterized by its composition (nationals of West Africa). Under the guise of an independent group, it is, in fact, the foreign legion of AQIM and its mission is the penetration and expansion in West Africa of AQIM. It operates through a wide network with branches and connections with the community of drug trafficking, weapons and kidnapping and benefits from the complicity in the political and military of some countries in the region, the expert says.
He believes that the target of Mujao is Mali and Gao not Algeria . He does not see a benefit for Mujao in a confrontation with Algeria and yhe says the main composition of Mujao is West African and they aim to expand in that area. He regards the leaving behind of the Algerian consulate officials was incomprehensible.
On the issue of Algerian mediation the expert Mr Modibo Goita believes that Algeria has lost the will to negotiate as it did in the Tuareg insurrection in 2006 and has left the field to ECOWAS. He says that the political class in Mali do not understand Algeria's impartiality in the conflict. He urges Algeria to " take more initiatives",andt establishe a partnership with Morocco to curb this menace. Military intervention would be required when the chances of reaching a peaceful settlement have been exhausted.a military intervention from southern Algeria or an air campaign in support and support ground attacks would be able to stop a regional conflagration, ie the involvement of other forces. This means that Algeria has the solution to the crisis." This was te view expressed by Niger recently which urged Algerian intervention. He ends by saying that the Malian army will only be able to deal with the North if it has significant logistic support.
He believes that the target of Mujao is Mali and Gao not Algeria . He does not see a benefit for Mujao in a confrontation with Algeria and yhe says the main composition of Mujao is West African and they aim to expand in that area. He regards the leaving behind of the Algerian consulate officials was incomprehensible.
On the issue of Algerian mediation the expert Mr Modibo Goita believes that Algeria has lost the will to negotiate as it did in the Tuareg insurrection in 2006 and has left the field to ECOWAS. He says that the political class in Mali do not understand Algeria's impartiality in the conflict. He urges Algeria to " take more initiatives",andt establishe a partnership with Morocco to curb this menace. Military intervention would be required when the chances of reaching a peaceful settlement have been exhausted.a military intervention from southern Algeria or an air campaign in support and support ground attacks would be able to stop a regional conflagration, ie the involvement of other forces. This means that Algeria has the solution to the crisis." This was te view expressed by Niger recently which urged Algerian intervention. He ends by saying that the Malian army will only be able to deal with the North if it has significant logistic support.
Source : https://www.marocafrik.com/english/A-Malian-expert...