Ansar Dine movement delegation The extremist Ansar Dine movement declared Tuesday that it is prepared to break any ties with al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM). The Islamist group, denying accusations of connections with terrorist organisations in North Mali, affirmed its willingness to negotiate with the government in Bamako in order to rescue the country from its current crisis without resorting to war or foreign intervention.
A source close to the movement told the French News Agency Tuesday that “Agh Ghali’s group does not have anything to do with terrorism. It condemned all its forms and deeds, including the kidnapping of foreign subjects in the region.”
The source added: “The movement wants to prevent the outbreak of war in the area. We fear for the safety of innocents people in Azawad. This is confirmed by the visits made by movement delegations to Algeria and Burkina Faso to contribute to creating a roadmap that moves the Sahel region away from a war whose outcome cannot be predicted.” He also stressed that Ansar Dine are “totally prepared to conduct direct negotiations with the provisional government in Mali,” adding “the movement supports peace.”
In the same context, Algeria has introduced a proposal for peace in the region. The plan comes in the form of a comprehensive plan that touches upon many disputed subjects between the parties involved. Algeria has presented the proposal to the Azawadian movements and the Malian government, as part of the country’s attempt to solve the crisis.
This initiative comes days before the deadline set by the United Nations for the military intervention and the deployment of African peacekeeping forces in North Mali.
A well-informed source said that the Algerian plan includes the withdrawal of armed militias from the main cities of Azawad as well as checkpoints along main routes and borders. The initiative also calls for an end to weapon trafficking, with African peacekeeping troops being entrusted with the security of Azawad towns and borders. Direct negotiations between the Malian government and Azawadian movements should begin after the deployment of troops, the proposal says.
Other elements of this initiative include the establishment of a development fund for the Azawad region, a plan for reconstruction and a solution for the problem of those abducted by terrorist groups.