Breaking news: Tuareg rebels declare independence in north Mali.

[MoonLight1]

Tuareg rebels declare independence in north Mali

 

 

A rebel group in northern Mali has declared independence for a region it calls Azawad, after seizing control of the area late last month.

 

The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) made the statement on its website, adding that it would respect other states' borders.

 

The group is one of two rebel groups to have gained ground in the area after Mali's government was ousted.

 

Coup leaders took over in protest at the failure to stem the rebellion.

 

The declaration comes as rights group Amnesty International warned that Mali was on the brink of a major humanitarian disaster in the wake of the rebellion.

 

It demanded that aid agencies be given immediate access to the country after days of looting, abduction and chaos in the northern towns of Gao, Kidal and the historic city of Timbuktu.

 

On Thursday the MNLA rebels declared a "unilateral" ceasefire after the UN Security Council called for an end to the fighting in Mali - and after it said it had secured territory.

 

A statement posted on the rebel website on Friday proclaimed independence, adding it would respect existing borders with neighbouring states and adhere to the UN Charter. The statement also called for recognition from the international community.

 

The MNLA was formed last year, partly by well-armed Tuareg fighters returning from Libya, where they had backed former leader Muammar Gaddafi.

 

But the UN has previously voiced alarm at the presence of the Ansar Dine group amid the rebel forces, which has links to al-Qaeda and wants to impose Islamic law, or Sharia, across the whole of the West African state.

 

Unlike the MNLA, Ansar Dine is not in favour of an independent northern state.

 

 

Source: www.bbc.com/news

[Somalia]

Welcome Azawad State

 

The world's newest country

[burahadeer]

SL baa ictraaftay

[MoonLight1]

The recognition of the Independence of South Sudan has opened a Pandora box from Libya to South Africa.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

I said it before africa is about to reshaped let's see how it goes tuareg were like the kurds of africa they want their own country.

[MoonLight1]

Xaaji Xunjuf;815293 wrote:

I said it before africa is about to reshaped let's see how it goes tuareg were like the kurds of africa they want their own country.

I think this rebellious in the north will be dealt with once the central government of Mali is stable and the coup settles. Bury in mind there are Tuarigs in about nine countries, Algeria, Libya, Niger, Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, and all of these countries don't want to see an independent Azawad country which will encourage their own Tuarig population to break up.

[Taleexi]

People deserve to live in liberty.

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

True say moonlight its all about if they can hold it out not sure if they can against the army of mali when things settle down in the capital. How ever they can agree on some sort of autonomy also an islamic group is supporting these guys

[uchi]

omg I'm shocked & surprised they didn't name thier brand new country 'Maliland'.

 

Very disappointing~

[kingofkings]

uchi;815298 wrote:

omg I'm shocked & surprised they didn't name thier brand new country 'Maliland'.

 

Very disappointing~

looooooooooool :D

[Che -Guevara]

loool....I guess they had little more imagination.

[GaroweGal]

uchi;815298 wrote:

omg I'm shocked & surprised they didn't name thier brand new country 'Maliland'.

 

Very disappointing~

Hilarious mate. LOL

[Qandalawi]

Some sort of autonomous will be good for the Toureg people and Azawad region so that they can run their own state of affairs. They have been fighting since 1962, that's even before many African countries gained Independence, its seems if subdued they will continue fighting and war is no good for the region anymore. They need to get their autonomy while being part of Mali.

[Relentless]

Somaliland is an old name, its the name of a nation state that existed for more then a hundred years. Its the same name that liberated Djibouti, Formed the Union with Somalia and was the headquarters for the invasion of Ethiopia. Whats funny is people who have no clue. Why not use something that is timeless and effective. :cool:

[Jacaylbaro]

Even if the subject is about Mars or Jupiter, they still keep talking about Somaliland ....