ALL IS NOT QUIET ON THE NORTHERN FRONT

S E C R E T BAMAKO 000505

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/09/2017
TAGS: PREL PGOV ML
SUBJECT: ALL IS NOT QUIET ON THE NORTHERN FRONT


Classified By: POLITICAL OFFICER GLENN FEDZER FOR REASONS
1.4 (b) AND (d)


1. (C) A flurry of press releases and internet blogs
indicating that the Tuareg militant group ADC (Alliance
Democratique du Mai 23 pour le Changement),frustrated over
the slow implementation of the Algiers Accords, has returned
to the hills is likely limited to only to Ibrahim Bahanga and
a few other Tuaregs, according to diplomatic sources in
Bamako and embassy contacts in Kidal. Significantly, key ADC
leader Iyad ag Aghaly has reportedly disavowed Bahanga's
stance.


2. (C) Initial reports from European missions (including one
ADC communique reportedly sent to the EU headquarters in
Belgium) indicated that the ADC was dissatisfied with
progress on the implementation of the accords. A local
source indicated that one bone of contention was the location
selected for the formation of Tuareg units as called for by
the Accords. The location (the source could not specify
where) was reportedly unacceptable to the Tuaregs as being
too far from Kidal.


3. (S) Embassy sources indicated that Bahanga's anger was
caused by the Malian Army, who followed him on trip to
Tin-zawatene, a remote town on the Algerian border. Bahanga
went to Tin-zawatene to coordinate his smuggling activities
with Nigerien Tuaregs who had taken refuge in Mali following
actions against the Niamey government The arrival of a
company-sized unit of the Malian 12th regiment in
Tin-zawatene, along with Regimental Commander Lieutenant
Colonel Keita, may have spooked the Nigeriens and angered
Bahanga. The Army representatives and Bahanga argued, and an
ADC representative was dispatched to bring Bahanga back to
Kidal, although he reportedly remains in Tin-zawatene. A
Malian Government source said that the ADC recently agreed to
attach some ADC soldiers to the Malian military units being
dispatched to the north to ease fears by some in the Tuareg
population that the military could pose a threat to them
(deployment of Malian troops to new locations in the North to
be reported septel).


4. (S) Comment: Sources reported that Bahanga has departed
Kidal with only 10-15 armed Tuaregs, and without the support
of Iyad ag Aghaly, Bahanga does not represent a serious
threat to stability. Bahanga, ironically the ADC's
representative for conflicts and resolution, is among the
most aggressive of the ADC leaders, and his stand likely
represents an extreme position within the ADC. One Malian
Government source indicated that it may even be due to a
personal conflict between LTC Keita and Bahanga, as the
former was in a unit years ago that fought directly against
Bahanga. Most Tuareg leaders, with some including ag Aghaly
holding recently acquired positions within the Malian
Government, are likely to grant more time to have their
concerns addressed.
McCulley