Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BAMAKO623
2008-07-03 15:19:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bamako
Cable title:
FORMER BERBICHE REBEL ALIGNS WITH TUAREG ADC
how-toVZCZCXRO9497 RR RUEHPA DE RUEHBP #0623 1851519 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 031519Z JUL 08 FM AMEMBASSY BAMAKO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9397 INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHAS/AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 0455 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHMFISS/COMSOCEUR VAIHINGEN GE RHMFISS/HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BAMAKO 000623
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2018
TAGS: ASEC PINS PINR ML
SUBJECT: FORMER BERBICHE REBEL ALIGNS WITH TUAREG ADC
REF: BAMAKO 00371
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 000623
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2018
TAGS: ASEC PINS PINR ML
SUBJECT: FORMER BERBICHE REBEL ALIGNS WITH TUAREG ADC
REF: BAMAKO 00371
Classified By: Political Officer Aaron Sampson, Embassy Bamako,
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1.(C) Ahmed Ould Sidi Mohamed, the founder of the Armed
Islamic Front for the Azawad (FIAA) during northern Mali's
1991-1996 rebellion and a leader of north-west Mali's
Berabiche community, recently traveled east of Kidal to meet
with Tuareg rebels. He reportedly pledged Berabiche support
for the Tuareg rebel Alliance for Democracy and Change (ADC).
2.(C) On July 2 an organization known as the Association of
Berabiche Leaders of Northern Mali issued a statement
denouncing "a group of former FIAA leaders" that recently
aligned itself with ADC. The statement was signed by
Abderrahmane Ould Sid Ould Hamma and expressed support, on
behalf of ethnic Arabs of northern Mali, for the Malian
Government, peace and dialogue. The president of the
Berabiche leaders' Association is Lamine Tahar, a prominent
Timbuktu businessman who is also president of the Union of
Malian Arab Communities (Ref. A). Tahar, Abderrahmane Ould
Sid Ould Hamma and most other Malian Berabiche live in the
region of Timbuktu.
3.(C) Coment: Ahmed Ould Sidi Mohamed is apparently basedin Mauritania and may or may not hold dual Malian-auritanian
nationality. During the 1991-1996 reellion he earned a
reputation for aligning himsef with Tuareg rebel movements
just as they were on the verge of signing Algerian-brokered
agreements with the Malian Government. His decision to
travel to Kidal to meet with contemporary Tuareg rebels may
indicate that he and a small number of Berabiche ex-rebels
from the 1990s believe the ADC is close to reaching a new
peace deal with the Malians. The press release issued by
Ould Sid Ould Hamma is likely an effort to preempt a
statement by Ould Sidi Mohamed on behalf of northern Mali's
Berabiche community.
MCCULLEY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/13/2018
TAGS: ASEC PINS PINR ML
SUBJECT: FORMER BERBICHE REBEL ALIGNS WITH TUAREG ADC
REF: BAMAKO 00371
Classified By: Political Officer Aaron Sampson, Embassy Bamako,
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1.(C) Ahmed Ould Sidi Mohamed, the founder of the Armed
Islamic Front for the Azawad (FIAA) during northern Mali's
1991-1996 rebellion and a leader of north-west Mali's
Berabiche community, recently traveled east of Kidal to meet
with Tuareg rebels. He reportedly pledged Berabiche support
for the Tuareg rebel Alliance for Democracy and Change (ADC).
2.(C) On July 2 an organization known as the Association of
Berabiche Leaders of Northern Mali issued a statement
denouncing "a group of former FIAA leaders" that recently
aligned itself with ADC. The statement was signed by
Abderrahmane Ould Sid Ould Hamma and expressed support, on
behalf of ethnic Arabs of northern Mali, for the Malian
Government, peace and dialogue. The president of the
Berabiche leaders' Association is Lamine Tahar, a prominent
Timbuktu businessman who is also president of the Union of
Malian Arab Communities (Ref. A). Tahar, Abderrahmane Ould
Sid Ould Hamma and most other Malian Berabiche live in the
region of Timbuktu.
3.(C) Coment: Ahmed Ould Sidi Mohamed is apparently basedin Mauritania and may or may not hold dual Malian-auritanian
nationality. During the 1991-1996 reellion he earned a
reputation for aligning himsef with Tuareg rebel movements
just as they were on the verge of signing Algerian-brokered
agreements with the Malian Government. His decision to
travel to Kidal to meet with contemporary Tuareg rebels may
indicate that he and a small number of Berabiche ex-rebels
from the 1990s believe the ADC is close to reaching a new
peace deal with the Malians. The press release issued by
Ould Sid Ould Hamma is likely an effort to preempt a
statement by Ould Sidi Mohamed on behalf of northern Mali's
Berabiche community.
MCCULLEY