Accord d’Alger pour la Restauration de la Paix, de la Sécurité et du Développement dans la région de Kidal

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Country/entity: Mali
Azawad
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Accord d’Alger pour la Restauration de la Paix, de la Sécurité et du Développement dans la région de Kidal
Date: 4 Jul 2006
Agreement status: Multiparty signed/agreed
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Tuareg Wars (1962 - )
Mali-Azawad
The nomadic Tuareg in the north of Mali maintained a long-standing revolt against a government traditionally dominated by southern politicians shortly after Mali became independent from France in 1960. The uprisings focused in and around the Azawad region, north of Timbuktu. After several outbreaks of violence during the 1980s, violence peaked with the 1990 outbreak of the Tuareg Rebellion. Following an initial defeat by the Malian Armed Forces, reparations by the government of Alpha Konare included the creation of the self-governing Kidal region. Violence in 1994 died down following peace between moderates on both sides in 1995 and a negotiated peace agreement. Violence continued due to a lack of integration by combatants, but it was not until 2011 that the situation again escalated in the aftermath of the Arab Spring and the disintegration of Libya, which resulted in a heavy inflow of small arms, and the increased involvement by Algeria. In January 2012, the National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) together with several other groups took full control of the region. Disputes on how to handle the situation led to a military coup against President Touré in March 2012 that, in turn, resulted in further turmoil. The MNLA declared the independence of Azawad, but soon lost control of most of the territory to radical Islamist militias including Ansar Dine. A French intervention in January 2013 paved the way for a UN mission, which was established in April of that year. In June 2015 multiple declarations culminated in a final agreement between several Azawad-affiliated groups, including MNLA, and the government of Mali to end hostilities. However, inadequate implementation of the agreement results in continual armed confrontations between pro-government militias, Azawad-affiliated groups, dissidents of Azawad-affiliated groups, ethnically oriented groups, and increasingly since 2017, radical Islamist militias.

Niger-Aïr-Azawad
In 1990 the nomadic Tuareg in northern Niger explicitly sought greater political autonomy following decades of grievances on local political exclusion. With the first armed group Aïr and Azawad Liberation Front (FLAA) to be established in 1991, fighting between 1990 to 1995 took place largely in the Air Mountains. A short-lived truce was agreed in 1994 between the Niger Government and the Tuareg umbrella organisation Coordination of Armed Resistance (CRA), later called Organisation of Armed Resistance (ORA). Another accord was signed in April 1995 in Ouagadougou with various other Tuareg groups and some Toubou, the last signing in 1998. After ten years of relative peace, Movement of Nigeriens for Justice (MNJ) reinvigorated conflicts in 2007 following little follow up by the Nigeriene government on the signed peace agreements.
Stage: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Mali-Azawad Inter-Azawad peace process
Parties: (Signed)
For the Government of the Republic of Mali
Gal. Kafougouna KONE
Minister of Territorial Administration and Local Collectivities

(Signed)
For the Democratic Alliance of May 23 2006 for Renewal
Ahmada Ag BIBI
Third parties: (Signed)
For the facilitator
SE Abdelkrim GHERAIEB
Ambassador of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria
Description: This agreement is about the region of Kidal and special measures taken in recognition of its special needs (desert and dependent on farming) for its social and economic development.

Agreement document: ML_060704_Accord d'Alger_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF
Agreement document (original language): ML_060704_Accord d'Alger_FR.pdf (opens in new tab)| Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: Groups→Children/youth→Substantive
Page 4, III. Dealing with immediate security concerns, Article 7:
A fund for development and socio-economic reinsertion of the civilian population, in particular young people affected by the events of May 23, 2006, shall be created, open also to other young people in the Kidal region, shall be established , supervised by the provisional regional committee for coordination and monitoring. Furthermore the committee shall be widely consulted on who shall manage this fund.

Page 5-6, V. Priority measures, Article 5:
Establishment by the Monitoring Committee, of the technical security group which shall be charged with, in accordance with the provisions relating to creation of the Committee:
[...]
- Within the framework for recruiting and training young persons in the region, develop a programme to prepare them to serve, as required by operational needs, in the special security units, units of the national guard, the gendarmerie, the police, the customs and those of water and forests.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): Page 1, Untitled preamble:
• Reaffirming our attachment to the third Republic of Mali;
• Reaffirming also our respect for territorial integrity and national unity;
[...]
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: Page 2, II. Economic, social and cultural development, Article 4:
Exchanges between the regions of neighbouring countries shall be specified and coordinated within the cross border framework, in accordance with the bilateral agreements signed with these countries;

Page 3, II. Economic, social and cultural development, Article 9:
An education system which reflects our social, cultural and religious values shall be established and grants for study abroad awarded to the best performing high school graduates in the region;

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→General references
Page 1-2, I. Towards better participation in decision-making processes, Article 1:
A provisional regional monitoring and coordination council shall be established.

Page 1-2, I. Towards better participation in decision-making processes, Article 4:
At the end of its mission its duties shall be assumed by the Regional Assembly.

Page 1-2, I. Towards better participation in decision-making processes, Article 5:
Its remit:

It shall be consulted by the Department with administrative responsibility for the development of legislation for the Kidal Region.

It shall promote good political governance and help to improve the use of local and regional competences in the machinery of State.

It shall support the Regional Assembly in exercising its remit, by:
• Cooperating with the providers of funding for economic, social and cultural development, in accordance with Article 32 of the National Pact.
• All aspects of regional security, in accordance with bullet points C and D of article 15 of the National Pact.
• The Regional Budget, in accordance with article 33 of the National Pact.
It shall, together with the administrative and political authorities, help to main a good social climate by means of the traditional channels of dialogue and agreement.
It shall be consulted an all specific aspects of development and mediation, and help to improve administration by maintaining harmony and social cohesion in the region.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: Page 1-2, I. Towards better participation in decision-making processes, Article 5:
Its remit:

It shall be consulted by the Department with administrative responsibility for the development of legislation for the Kidal Region.
[...]
It shall support the Regional Assembly in exercising its remit, by:
[...]
• The Regional Budget, in accordance with article 33 of the National Pact.
It shall, together with the administrative and political authorities, help to main a good social climate by means of the traditional channels of dialogue and agreement.

It shall be consulted an all specific aspects of development and mediation, and help to improve administration by maintaining harmony and social cohesion in the region.

Page 4, III. Dealing with immediate security concerns, Article 6:
Active participation of persons from the region in State business shall increase in accordance with the spirit of fairness emphasised in the National Pact.
Constitution: No specific mention.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: No specific mention.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: Power sharing→Military power sharing→Merger of forces
Page 3: III Dealing with immediate security concerns, Special security units, Article 4:
Outside the urban areas of Kidal, special security units, reporting to the military zone command and composed principally of elements from the nomadic regions, in the right proportions to ensure the efficient execution of Special Security Unit Missions, shall be established.
The act to create these units shall specify their quantity, number of personnel and equipment, their location and their characteristics.
They shall be tasked with the following missions, in particular:
- Protection and caretaking of public buildings.
- Protection of important persons.
- Reconnaissance and patrol.
- Assisting the judicial police.
- Intervention.
- Any other tasks defined in the legislation to set them up.

They shall work in a coordinated manner and complement the work of the national security forces.
They shall report to the command structure of the military zone.

They shall be employed by the Governor of the Region.

They shall be attached to units of the National Guard.

They shall report to the operational command of the special units, whose chief shall be selected from the personnel specified in Chapter II, Point 5, and for whom the second in command shall come from other units of the national army and security forces. The special units’ operational command shall report ultimately to the National Guard Chief of Staff.

Officers selected from the personnel specified in Chapter 3, point 5, may serve in the special units. However, if a unit is commanded by an officer from the personnel specified in Chapter 3, point 5, his second in command shall come from other national army and security forces units, and vice versa.

Their personnel requirements shall be met from other national defence and security units.

These units and their operational command shall be provided with personnel and resources in line with the table of staff and equipment decreed by the competent authority, as proposed by the technical security group on the advice of the Monitoring Committee. They shall have access to a specialised structure for social measures to assist their personnel.

On the date to be specified by the Ministry of Internal Security, as proposed by the technical security group, on the advice of the monitoring committee, the personnel who will serve in these units shall start training for the missions to be assigned to these units. The training programmes shall be developed by the competent authority, as proposed by the technical security group on the advice of the Monitoring Committee.

The training location shall be specified by the competent authority, as proposed by the technical security group on the advice of the Monitoring Committee. This shall also be the cantonment location for the personnel specified in Chapter III, points 4 and 5. It shall be supervised by the technical security group.

The operation to return arms, ammunition and other seized material shall take place in the cantonment location, upon admission of the personnel specified in Chapter III, points 4 and 5, and at the same time as the socio-professional situation of these personnel is completed.

Page 4, III. Dealing with immediate security concerns, Article 5:
There shall be careful management of those officers, junior officers and other ranks who left their units during the events of May 23, 2006, by integrating them as needed in the special security units using the specialised mechanism envisioned above, to facilitate the regularisation of their administrative, financial and working situation, and by involving them in peace maintenance operations.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: Rights related issues→Media and communication→Media roles
Page 2-3, II. Economic, social and cultural development, Article 7:
In the areas of equipment and communication:
- the region shall be opened up by surfacing the principal highways between Kidal and Gao, Menaka and Algeria.
- an airport at Kidal shall be constructed;
- the airport at Tessalit shall be reconstructed;
- the main towns of cercles and communes shall be electrified;
- a telephone network shall be installed in the main towns of cercles and communes
- a regional radio and national telephone network shall be installed in order to promote the cultural values of the region, and disseminate a more positive image of the populations of the region; audio-visual technicians shall be trained and one hour of national radio and television broadcasts each day shall be devoted to coverage of the region.
Mobility/access: Page 2-3, II. Economic, social and cultural development, Article 7:
In the areas of equipment and communication:
- the region shall be opened up by surfacing the principal highways between Kidal and Gao, Menaka and Algeria.
- an airport at Kidal shall be constructed;
- the airport at Tessalit shall be reconstructed;
- the main towns of cercles and communes shall be electrified;
- a telephone network shall be installed in the main towns of cercles and communes
- a regional radio and national telephone network shall be installed in order to promote the cultural values of the region, and disseminate a more positive image of the populations of the region; audio-visual technicians shall be trained and one hour of national radio and television broadcasts each day shall be devoted to coverage of the region.
Protection measures: Rights related issues→Protection measures→Other
Page 3: III Dealing with immediate security concerns, Special security units, Article 4:
Outside the urban areas of Kidal, special security units, reporting to the military zone command and composed principally of elements from the nomadic regions, in the right proportions to ensure the efficient execution of Special Security Unit Missions, shall be established.
The act to create these units shall specify their quantity, number of personnel and equipment, their location and their characteristics.
They shall be tasked with the following missions, in particular:
- Protection and caretaking of public buildings.
- Protection of important persons.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: Socio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic development
Page 1, Untitled preamble:
[...]
• Wishing to preserve peace, security and stability in our country and to devote ourselves to socio-economic development in the Northern Regions and that of Kidal;
• Wishing to create a dynamic to overcome the delays Kidal has experienced in social and economic development;
[...]
• Recalling the acquis of the national pact of April 1992 [...] and the need for the populations of each region to manage local affairs, to participate in national affairs, and the need to initiate a programme of economic assistance and development with the support of foreign partners;
• Noting the deprivation of the Kidal Region which is entirely desert, in view of its isolation and its serious lack of the infrastructure needed for development and the dependency of the population of this region on livestock farming;
• Convinced that there can be no sustainable development unless all human resources are used and local potential is exploited;
• Noting the interdependence between development, security and stability;
[...]

Page 1-2, I. Towards better participation in decision-making processes, Article 5:
Its remit:
[...]
It shall support the Regional Assembly in exercising its remit, by:
• Cooperating with the providers of funding for economic, social and cultural development, in accordance with Article 32 of the National Pact.
[...]
• The Regional Budget, in accordance with article 33 of the National Pact.
[...]

Page 3, II. Economic, social and cultural development, Article 9:
An education system which reflects our social, cultural and religious values shall be established and grants for study abroad awarded to the best performing high school graduates in the region;

Page 4, III. Dealing with immediate security concerns, Article 7:
A fund for development and socio-economic reinsertion of the civilian population, in particular young people affected by the events of May 23, 2006, shall be created, open also to other young people in the Kidal region, shall be established , supervised by the provisional regional committee for coordination and monitoring. Furthermore the committee shall be widely consulted on who shall manage this fund.

Page 5, III. Dealing with immediate security concerns, Article 8:
Kidal’s under-development shall be taken into account when developing and implementing the national budget.

Page 5, III. Dealing with immediate security concerns, Article 9:
Centres for professional training shall be set up, together with any associated measures.

Page 6, V. Priority measures, Article 7:
Establish the development and reinsertion fund foreseen in Chapter III, point 7.

Page 6, V. Priority measures, Article 8:
Organise the Kidal Development Forum within three (3) months of signing the agreement.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: Page 2, II. Economic, social and cultural development, Article 1:
A development forum shall be organised at Kidal in order to create a special investment fund to implement a programme of economic, social and cultural development. This programme will address activities such as livestock rearing, education, traditional workmanship, and exploiting natural resources;

Page 3, II. Economic, social and cultural development, Article 8:
Natural resource research and exploration programmes shall be promoted.
International funds: Page 1, Untitled preamble:
[...]
• Recalling the acquis of the national pact of April 1992, which recognised the specificity of Northern Mali, and the need for the populations of each region to manage local affairs, to participate in national affairs, and the need to initiate a programme of economic assistance and development with the support of foreign partners;
[...]
Business: Page 2, II. Economic, social and cultural development, Article 3:
In the area of employment, small and medium-sized enterprises shall be established, loans granted and people trained in management.
Taxation: Socio-economic reconstruction→Taxation→Reform of taxation
Page 3, II. Economic, social and cultural development, Article 11:
The preferential taxation regime for the Northern regions defined in the National Pact, shall be extended for ten (10) years, in order to attract and stimulate investment.

Page 6, V. Priority measures, Article 6:
Enact the law to extend by ten (10) years the preferential fiscal and incentivising regime for the Northern Regions, defined in the National Pact.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: Page 2, II. Economic, social and cultural development, Article 5:
A health system appropriate for the lifestyle of nomadic peoples shall be established;
Cultural heritage: Land, property and environment→Cultural heritage→Intangible
Page 3, II. Economic, social and cultural development, Article 10:
10. A special programme for the award of diplomas in the Arab language with a view to re-training and specialisation shall be put in place;
Land, property and environment→Cultural heritage→Promotion
Page 1, Untitled preamble:
[...]
• Underlining the need to promote cultural diversity in Mali, taking into account the specific characteristics of the Northern Regions;

Page 2, II. Economic, social and cultural development, Article 1:
A development forum shall be organised at Kidal in order to create a special investment fund to implement a programme of economic, social and cultural development. This programme will address activities such as livestock rearing, education, traditional workmanship, and exploiting natural resources;

Page 2-3, II. Economic, social and cultural development, Article 7:
In the areas of equipment and communication:
[...]
- a regional radio and national telephone network shall be installed in order to promote the cultural values of the region, and disseminate a more positive image of the populations of the region; audio-visual technicians shall be trained and one hour of national radio and television broadcasts each day shall be devoted to coverage of the region.

Page 3, II. Economic, social and cultural development, Article 9:
An education system which reflects our social, cultural and religious values shall be established and grants for study abroad awarded to the best performing high school graduates in the region;
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: Page 2, II. Economic, social and cultural development, Article 6:
A sustainable system of access to drinking water shall be developed throughout the region, and in particular in major population settlements;

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 1, Untitled preamble:
[...]
• Wishing to preserve peace, security and stability in our country and to devote ourselves to socio-economic development in the Northern Regions and that of Kidal;
[...]
• Noting the interdependence between development, security and stability;
[...]

Page 1-2, I. Towards better participation in decision-making processes, Article 5:
Its remit:
[...]
It shall support the Regional Assembly in exercising its remit, by:
• Cooperating with the providers of funding for economic, social and cultural development, in accordance with Article 32 of the National Pact.
• All aspects of regional security, in accordance with bullet points C and D of article 15 of the National Pact.
• The Regional Budget, in accordance with article 33 of the National Pact.
[...]
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: Page 5-6, V. Priority measures, Article 5:
Establishment by the Monitoring Committee, of the technical security group which shall be charged with, in accordance with the provisions relating to creation of the Committee:
[...]
- Within the framework for recruiting and training young persons in the region, develop a programme to prepare them to serve, as required by operational needs, in the special security units, units of the national guard, the gendarmerie, the police, the customs and those of water and forests.
Armed forces: Page 3: III Dealing with immediate security concerns, Article 2:
The process of relocation of military barracks from urban areas in accordance with the provisions in the National Pact shall begin.

Page 3: III Dealing with immediate security concerns, Article 3:
Under the auspices of the facilitator, all weapons and ammunition, and other material seized since the attacks of May 23, 2006, in Kidal, Menaka and Tessalit, shall be returned in accordance with the procedure decreed in the present agreement.

Page 3: III Dealing with immediate security concerns, Special security units, Article 4:
Outside the urban areas of Kidal, special security units, reporting to the military zone command and composed principally of elements from the nomadic regions, in the right proportions to ensure the efficient execution of Special Security Unit Missions, shall be established.
The act to create these units shall specify their quantity, number of personnel and equipment, their location and their characteristics.
They shall be tasked with the following missions, in particular:
- Protection and caretaking of public buildings.
- Protection of important persons.
- Reconnaissance and patrol.
- Assisting the judicial police.
- Intervention.
- Any other tasks defined in the legislation to set them up.

They shall work in a coordinated manner and complement the work of the national security forces.
They shall report to the command structure of the military zone.

They shall be employed by the Governor of the Region.

They shall be attached to units of the National Guard.

They shall report to the operational command of the special units, whose chief shall be selected from the personnel specified in Chapter II, Point 5, and for whom the second in command shall come from other units of the national army and security forces. The special units’ operational command shall report ultimately to the National Guard Chief of Staff.

Officers selected from the personnel specified in Chapter 3, point 5, may serve in the special units. However, if a unit is commanded by an officer from the personnel specified in Chapter 3, point 5, his second in command shall come from other national army and security forces units, and vice versa.

Their personnel requirements shall be met from other national defence and security units.

These units and their operational command shall be provided with personnel and resources in line with the table of staff and equipment decreed by the competent authority, as proposed by the technical security group on the advice of the Monitoring Committee. They shall have access to a specialised structure for social measures to assist their personnel.

On the date to be specified by the Ministry of Internal Security, as proposed by the technical security group, on the advice of the monitoring committee, the personnel who will serve in these units shall start training for the missions to be assigned to these units. The training programmes shall be developed by the competent authority, as proposed by the technical security group on the advice of the Monitoring Committee.

The training location shall be specified by the competent authority, as proposed by the technical security group on the advice of the Monitoring Committee. This shall also be the cantonment location for the personnel specified in Chapter III, points 4 and 5. It shall be supervised by the technical security group.

The operation to return arms, ammunition and other seized material shall take place in the cantonment location, upon admission of the personnel specified in Chapter III, points 4 and 5, and at the same time as the socio-professional situation of these personnel is completed.

Page 4, III. Dealing with immediate security concerns, Article 5:
There shall be careful management of those officers, junior officers and other ranks who left their units during the events of May 23, 2006, by integrating them as needed in the special security units using the specialised mechanism envisioned above, to facilitate the regularisation of their administrative, financial and working situation, and by involving them in peace maintenance operations.

Page 5-6, V. Priority measures, Article 5:
Establishment by the Monitoring Committee, of the technical security group which shall be charged with, in accordance with the provisions relating to creation of the Committee:
- Implementing points 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Chapter III of the agreement relating respectively to the relocation of barracks, the return of weapons, ammunition and other material seized since May 23, 2006, the special security units, and the management of personnel.

- Facilitate restoration of the quantity of military and security staff to that preceding May 23, 2006.

- Propose measures to make better use of the region’s competences, in the security and defence institutions of Mali.

- Within the framework for recruiting and training young persons in the region, develop a programme to prepare them to serve, as required by operational needs, in the special security units, units of the national guard, the gendarmerie, the police, the customs and those of water and forests.
DDR: Security sector→DDR→Demilitarisation provisions
Page 3, III. Dealing with immediate security concerns, Article 3:
Under the auspices of the facilitator, all weapons and ammunition, and other material seized since the attacks of May 23, 2006, in Kidal, Menaka and Tessalit, shall be returned in accordance with the procedure decreed in the present agreement.

Page 4, III. Dealing with immediate security concerns, Article 4:
[...]
The operation to return arms, ammunition and other seized material shall take place in the cantonment location, upon admission of the personnel specified in Chapter III, points 4 and 5, and at the same time as the socio-professional situation of these personnel is completed.

Page 4, III. Dealing with immediate security concerns, Article 5:
There shall be careful management of those officers, junior officers and other ranks who left their units during the events of May 23, 2006, by integrating them as needed in the special security units using the specialised mechanism envisioned above, to facilitate the regularisation of their administrative, financial and working situation, and by involving them in peace maintenance operations.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: Page 5, V. Priority measures, Article 4:
Release of all persons detained following the events of May 23, 2006.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: (Signed)
For the facilitator
SE Abdelkrim GHERAIEB
Ambassador of the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: UN Peacemaker:

http://peacemaker.un.org/

ALGIERS AGREEMENT FOR THE RESTORATION OF PEACE, SECURITY AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE REGION OF KIDAL

Reaffirming our attachment to the third Republic of Mali;

Reaffirming also our respect for territorial integrity and national unity;

Wishing to preserve peace, security and stability in our country and to devote ourselves to socio-economic development in the Northern Regions and that of Kidal;

Wishing to create a dynamic to overcome the delays Kidal has experienced in social and economic development;

Underlining the need to promote cultural diversity in Mali, taking into account the specific characteristics of the Northern Regions;

Recalling the acquis of the national pact of April 1992, which recognised the specificity of Northern Mali, and the need for the populations of each region to manage local affairs, to participate in national affairs, and the need toinitiate a programmeof economic assistance and development with the support of foreign partners;

Noting the deprivation of the Kidal Region which is entirely desert, in view of its isolation and its serious lack of the infrastructure needed for development and the dependency of the population of this region on livestock farming;

Convinced that there can be no sustainable development unless all human resources are usedand local potential is exploited;

Noting the interdependence between development, security and stability;

Given the government’s determination to find a sustainable and definitive solution to this crisis, the following measures will be taken for the Kidal Region:

I. Towards better participation in decision-making processes

1. A provisional regional monitoring and coordination council shall be established.

2. It members shall be appointed by mutual agreement between the two parties and the facilitator.

3. The provisional regional monitoring and coordination council shall be appointed for one year, by order of the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Local Collectivities.

4. At the end of its mission its duties shall be assumed by the Regional Assembly.

5. Its remit:

It shall be consulted by the Department with administrative responsibility for the development of legislation for the Kidal Region.

It shall promote good political governance and help to improve the use of local and regional competences in the machinery of State.

It shall support the Regional Assembly in exercising its remit, by:

Cooperating with the providers of funding for economic, social and cultural development, in accordance with Article 32 of the National Pact.

All aspects of regional security, in accordance with bullet points C and D of article 15 of the National Pact.

The Regional Budget, in accordance with article 33 of the National Pact.

It shall, together with the administrative and political authorities, help to main a good social climate by means of the traditional channels of dialogue and agreement.

It shall be consulted an all specific aspects of development and mediation, and help to improve administration by maintaining harmony and social cohesion in the region.

II. Economic, social and cultural development

1. A development forum shall be organised at Kidal in order to create a special investment fund to implement a programme of economic, social and cultural development.

This programme will address activities such as livestock rearing, education, traditional workmanship, and exploiting natural resources;

2. The transfer of competences to local collectivities shall be accelerated;

3. In the area of employment, small and medium-sized enterprises shall be established, loans granted and people trained in management.

4. Exchanges between the regions of neighbouring countries shall be specified and coordinated within the cross border framework, in accordance with the bilateral agreements signed with these countries;

5. A health system appropriate for the lifestyle of nomadic peoples shall be established;

6. A sustainable system of access to drinking water shall be developed throughout the region, and in particular in major population settlements;

7. In the areas of equipment and communication:

- the region shall be opened up by surfacing the principal highways between Kidal and Gao, Menaka and Algeria.

- an airport at Kidal shall be constructed;

- the airport at Tessalit shall be reconstructed;

- the main towns of cercles and communes shall be electrified;

- a telephone network shall be installed in the main towns of cercles and communes

- a regional radio and national telephone network shall be installed in order to promote the cultural values of the region, and disseminate a more positive image of the populations of the region;

audio-visual technicians shall be trained and one hour of national radio and television broadcasts each day shall be devoted to coverage of the region.

8. Natural resource research and exploration programmes shall be promoted.

9. An education system which reflects our social, cultural and religious values shall be established and grants for study abroad awarded to the best performing high school graduates in the region;

10, A special programme for the award of diplomas in the Arab language with a view to re-training and specialisation shall be put in place;

11. The preferential taxation regime for the Northern regions defined in the National Pact, shall be extended for ten (10) years, in order to attract and stimulate investment.

III. Dealing with immediate security concerns

1. A provisional regional council for coordination and monitoring shall be set up.

2. The process of relocation of military barracks from urban areas in accordance with the provisions in the National Pact shall begin.

3. Under the auspices of the facilitator, all weapons and ammunition, and other material seized since the attacks of May 23, 2006, in Kidal, Menaka and Tessalit, shall be returned in accordance with the procedure decreed in the present agreement.

Special security units

4. Outside the urban areas of Kidal, special security units, reporting to the military zone command and composed principally of elements from the nomadic regions, in the right proportions to ensure the efficient execution of Special Security Unit Missions, shall be established.

The act to create these units shall specify their quantity, number of personnel and equipment, their location and their characteristics.

They shall be tasked with the following missions, in particular:

Protection and caretaking of public buildings.

Protection of important persons.

Reconnaissance and patrol.

Assisting the judicial police.

Intervention.

Any other tasks defined in the legislation to set them up.

They shall work in a coordinated manner and complement the work of the national security forces.

They shall report to the command structure of the military zone.

They shall be employed by the Governor of the Region.

They shall be attached to units of the National Guard.

They shall report to the operational command of the special units, whose chief shall be selected from the personnel specified in Chapter II, Point 5, and for whom the second in command shall come from other units of the national army and security forces.

The special units’ operational command shall report ultimately to the National Guard Chief of Staff.

Officers selected from the personnel specified in Chapter 3, point 5, may serve in the special units.

However, if a unit is commanded by an officer from the personnel specified in Chapter 3, point 5, his second in command shall come from other national army and security forces units, and vice versa.

Their personnel requirements shall be met from other national defence and security units.

These units and their operational command shall be provided with personnel and resources in line with the table of staff and equipment decreed by the competent authority, as proposed by the technical security group on the advice of the Monitoring Committee.

They shall have access to a specialised structure for social measures to assist their personnel.

On the date to be specified by the Ministry of Internal Security, as proposed by the technical security group, on the advice of the monitoring committee, the personnel who will serve in these units shall start training for the missions to be assigned to these units.

The training programmes shall be developed by the competent authority, as proposed by the technical security group on the advice of the Monitoring Committee.

The training location shall be specified by the competent authority, as proposed by the technical security group on the advice of the Monitoring Committee.

This shall also be the cantonment location for the personnel specified in Chapter III, points 4 and 5.

It shall be supervised by the technical security group.

The operation to return arms, ammunition and other seized material shall take place in the cantonment location, upon admission of the personnel specified in Chapter III, points 4 and 5, and at the same time as the socio-professional situation of these personnel is completed.

5. There shall be careful management of those officers, junior officers and other ranks who left their units during the events of May 23, 2006, by integrating them as needed in the special security units using the specialised mechanism envisioned above, to facilitate the regularisation of their administrative, financial and working situation, and by involving them in peace maintenance operations.

6. Active participation of persons from the region in State business shall increase in accordance with the spirit of fairness emphasised in the National Pact.

7. A fund for development and socio-economic reinsertion of the civilian population, in particular young people affected by the events of May 23, 2006, shall be created, open also to other young people in the Kidal region, shall be established , supervised by the provisional regional committeefor coordination and monitoring.

Furthermore the committee shall be widely consulted on who shall manage this fund.

8. Kidal’s under-development shall be taken into account when developing and implementing the national budget.

9. Centres for professional training shall be set up, together with any associated measures.

IV. Monitoring mechanism

1. Monitoring shall be ensured by a Committee which will supervise the implementation of the measures specified above.

It shall consist of representatives of the Government, the provisional regional council for coordination and monitoring, when established, and the facilitator.

2. It shall be established by a decree of the Ministry in charge of Territorial Administration and Local Collectivities, which shall determine its composition, operational procedures and territorial area of responsibility, with each of the parties represented by three members, and shall be based at Kidal.

3. The Monitoring Committee shall prepare regular reports on implementation of the agreement,

and shall produce a full evaluation of its implementation one year after its signature, and may recommend any measures needed to modify its implementation based on conditions on the ground.

4. The Monitoring Committee shall agree its own internal regulations, and where necessary shall set up working groups, including one on security.

V. Priority measures

1. Publication in the Official Journal of the Republic of Mali after signing.

2. Ministerial decree on creation of the Monitoring Committee following signature of the agreement.

3. After publication of the agreement, signature and presentation to the Monitoring Committee, of the Ministerial decree on establishing the provisional regional council for coordination and monitoring at Kidal.

4. Release of all persons detained following the events of May 23, 2006.

5. Establishment by the Monitoring Committee, of the technical security group which shall be charged with, in accordance with the provisions relating to creation of the Committee:

- Implementing points 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Chapter III of the agreement relating respectively to the relocation of barracks, the return of weapons, ammunition and other material seized since May 23, 2006, the special security units, and the management of personnel.

Facilitate restoration of the quantity of military and security staff to that preceding May 23, 2006.

Propose measures to make better use of the region’s competences, in the security and defence institutions of Mali.

Within the framework for recruiting and training young persons in the region, develop a programme to prepare them to serve, as required by operational needs, in the special security units, units of the national guard, the gendarmerie, the police, the customs and those of water and forests.

6. Enact the law to extend by ten (10) years the preferential fiscal and incentivising regime for the Northern Regions, defined in the National Pact.

7. Establish the development and reinsertion fund foreseen in Chapter III, point 7.

8. Organise the Kidal Development Forum within three (3) months of signing the agreement.

VI. Final provisions

Three original copies of the present agreement shall be prepared in the French language, signed by each of the two parties and the facilitator.

An original copy shall be kept by each of the signatories.

The present agreement shall be published in the Official Journal of the Republic of Mali.

Done at Algiers, July 4, 2006

Signatures