Communique of the fourth meeting of the Bilateral Algerian-Malian Strategic COmmittee on Northern Mali

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Country/entity: Mali
Azawad
Region: Africa (excl MENA)
Agreement name: Communique of the fourth meeting of the Bilateral Algerian-Malian Strategic COmmittee on Northern Mali
Date: 16 Jun 2014
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: Pre-negotiation/process
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Mali-Azawad Inter-Azawad peace process
Parties: For the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria:
(Signed) Ramtane Lamamra

Minister for Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Mali:
(Signed) Abdoulaye Diop
Minister for Foreign Affairs, African Integration and International Cooperation
Third parties: -
Description: This is a communiqué of the bilateral meeting between Mali and Algeria to talk about mechanisms for following up and implementing measures deamed useful for finding a peaceful and lasting solutions in North Mali.

Agreement document: ML_140616_CommuniqueofFourthMeeting_EN.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
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, Article 7:
The Algerian party pointed out that in these two documents, the six movements of northern Mali had affirmed their determination to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Malian authorities in order to find a definitive solution to the crisis in the northern region of the country, by endorsing the legitimate claims of the populations of the region while ensuring full respect for the territorial integrity and national unity of Mali.

Page 2, Article 11:
The two parties stressed the importance of conducting that new phase in conjunction with the regional and international partners they invited to support their efforts, which would be in strict accordance with the objectives established by the international community for preserving the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Mali and reinforcing its 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: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.

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: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: No specific mention.
Protection measures: No specific mention.
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: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: No specific mention.
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: Page 1, Article 3:
Considering the situation prevailing in the region, the two parties made an in - depth assessment of that situation [and] of the aftermath of the events which occurred in Kidal on 17 and 21 May 2014 and their security, political and humanitarian repercussions.

Page 1, Article 4:
The two parties considered that because of their gravity, those events underscored the necessity and urgency of accelerating the preparations for the inclusive inter-Malian dialogue, in such a way as to lay the groundwork for genuine reconciliation among Malians and for lasting peace, security and stability in the country.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: No specific mention.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: Page 1, Article 6:
The Algerian party drew particular attention to the outcome of the consultations that had been resumed on 5 June 2014 with the participation of all the leaders of all the movements of northern Mali, which had resulted in the adoption by the movements of the Algiers Declaration and the Algiers Preliminary Platform for the Inclusive Inter-Malian Dialogue, on 9 and 14 June respectively.

Page 1, Article 7:
The Algerian party pointed out that in these two documents, the six movements of northern Mali had affirmed their determination to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Malian authorities in order to find a definitive solution to the crisis in the northern region of the country, by endorsing the legitimate claims of the populations of the region while ensuring full respect for the territorial integrity and national unity of Mali.
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: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: No specific mention.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: Page 1, Article 4:
The two parties considered that because of their gravity, those events underscored the necessity and urgency of accelerating the preparations for the inclusive inter-Malian dialogue, in such a way as to lay the groundwork for genuine reconciliation among Malians and for lasting peace, security and stability in the country.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: Page 2:
For the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria:
(Signed) Ramtane Lamamra
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 DAG Repository:

http://repository.un.org

Communiqué of the fourth meeting of the Bilateral Algerian- Malian Strategic Committee on Northern Mali

1. The Bilateral Algerian-Malian Strategic Committee on Northern Mali held its fourth meeting in Algiers on 14 and 15 June 2014, co-chaired by His Excellency Mr. Ramtane Lamamra, Minister for Foreign Affairs of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, and His Excellency Mr. Abdoulaye Diop, Minister for Foreign Affairs, African Integration and International Cooperation of the Republic of Mali, with the participation of His Excellency Mr. Zahabi Ould Sidi Mohamed, Minister of National Reconciliation of the Republic of Mali, and His Excellency Mr. Hamadou Konaté, Minister of Solidarity, Humanitarian Action and Reconstruction of the North of the Republic of Mali.

2. This meeting was held pursuant to the decision by the two Heads of State, the President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria, His Excellency Mr. Abdelaziz Bouteflika, and the President of the Republic of Mali, His Excellency Mr. Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, to establish this mechanism as a strategic tool for follow-up and implementation of any measures the parties deemed likely to further a peaceful and lasting solution to the problems of northern Mali.

3. Considering the situation prevailing in the region, the two parties made an in - depth assessment of that situation [and] of the aftermath of the events which occurred in Kidal on 17 and 21 May 2014 and their security, political and humanitarian repercussions.

4. The two parties considered that because of their gravity, those events underscored the necessity and urgency of accelerating the preparations for the inclusive inter-Malian dialogue, in such a way as to lay the groundwork for genuine reconciliation among Malians and for lasting peace, security and stability in the country.

5. The Algerian party gave the Malian party a progress report on the exploratory consultations it had been conducting since January 2014, the aim of which was to establish conditions favourable to the inclusive inter-Malian dialogue, in keeping with the guidelines established by the two Heads of State on the occasion of the visit of the President of Mali to Algeria on 18 and 19 January 2014.

6. The Algerian party drew particular attention to the outcome of the consultations that had been resumed on 5 June 2014 with the participation of all the leaders of all the movements of northern Mali, which had resulted in the adoption by the movements of the Algiers Declaration and the Algiers Preliminary Platform for the Inclusive Inter-Malian Dialogue, on 9 and 14 June respectively.

7. The Algerian party pointed out that in these two documents, the six movements of northern Mali had affirmed their determination to enter into a constructive dialogue with the Malian authorities in order to find a definitive solution to the crisis in the northern region of the country, by endorsing the legitimate claims of the populations of the region while ensuring full respect for the territorial integrity and national unity of Mali.

8. The Malian party expressed its deep appreciation for those results, which were an effective and constructive basis for quickly launching, in Algiers, the initial phase of the inclusive inter-Malian dialogue.

9. The Malian party declared its readiness to work in good faith to consolidate the process under way in Algiers and the progress already made, and it reaffirmed its full confidence that Algeria would bring that new phase to a successful conclusion, in accordance with the wishes of President Keita.

10. The two parties accordingly proceeded to consider a series of proposals for fostering a climate of confidence among the parties concerned, through the implementation of measures to be agreed which would facilitate the discussions in accordance with an agreed timetable and methodology.

11. The two parties stressed the importance of conducting that new phase in conjunction with the regional and international partners they invited to support their efforts, which would be in strict accordance with the objectives established by the international community for preserving the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Mali and reinforcing its national unity.

12. The two parties decided to hold the fifth meeting of the Committee in Bamako, during the month of July 2014.

DONE at Algiers on 16 June 2014.

For the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria:

(Signed) Ramtane Lamamra

Minister for Foreign Affairs for the Republic of Mali:

(Signed) Abdoulaye Diop

Minister for Foreign Affairs, African Integration and International Cooperation