Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BAMAKO1222
2007-10-22 16:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bamako
Cable title:  

TUAREG LEADERS STILL WAITING FOR BAHANGA

Tags:  ASEC PINR PINS PREL ML 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6161
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHBP #1222 2951619
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 221619Z OCT 07
FM AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8310
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAMAKO 001222 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2017
TAGS: ASEC PINR PINS PREL ML
SUBJECT: TUAREG LEADERS STILL WAITING FOR BAHANGA

REF: BAMAKO 01015

Classified By: Political Officer Aaron Sampson, Embassy Bamako, for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAMAKO 001222

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/22/2017
TAGS: ASEC PINR PINS PREL ML
SUBJECT: TUAREG LEADERS STILL WAITING FOR BAHANGA

REF: BAMAKO 01015

Classified By: Political Officer Aaron Sampson, Embassy Bamako, for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

1.(C) A delegation of Tuareg leaders that traveled to
Tinzawaten in Northern Mali to re-start negotiations with
Tuareg bandit Ibrahim Bahanga on October 16 has yet to meet
with him as of 22 October. The delegation is led by the
National Assembly Deputy from Kidal, Alghabass Intallah, and
Democratic Alliance for Change (ADC) spokesperson and
National Assembly Deputy from Abeibara, Ahmada ag Bibi.

2.(C) Another National Assembly Deputy and member of the
ADC, Deity ag Sidimou, reported that he believed Bahanga may
have traveled to Libya. Ag Sidimou is currently in Tessalit
and is in telephone contact with Bahanga. Ag Sidimou claimed
that Bahanga had refused to meet with representatives of
Kidal's ruling Iforas tribe, which includes both Intallah and
ag Bibi. Bahanga is also an Iforas but of a lower, warrior
caste.

3.(C) The whereabouts of Bahanga's several dozen hostages
also remain unclear, with some claiming they have been moved
to Niger and others suspecting they could be in Algeria. On
October 19 a member of President Amadou Toumani Toure's inner
circle told the Embassy that President Toure had ordered
Algeria's national oil company Sonatrech to halt operations
in northern Mali's Taoudenni basin to increase pressure on
the Algerian government to, in turn, force Bahanga to
negotiate a settlement. President Toure is expected to
travel to Algiers later this week. This individual also
reiterated President Toure's suspicion that Algerian security
services based in southern Algeria are supporting Bahanga,
independent of any policy direction from the central
government in Algiers (reftel).
LEONARD