Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BAMAKO186
2009-03-25 09:03:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Bamako
Cable title:  

TUAREGS CAPTURE THIRD KIDNAPPING SUSPECT IN

Tags:  PTER PINS PINR PREL ML 
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R 250903Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0170
INFO ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
AMEMBASSY ALGIERS 
AMEMBASSY RABAT 
HQ USAFRICOM STUTTGART GE
CIA WASHDC
S E C R E T BAMAKO 000186 


NOFORN

RABAT FOR LEGATT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2019
TAGS: PTER PINS PINR PREL ML
SUBJECT: TUAREGS CAPTURE THIRD KIDNAPPING SUSPECT IN
NORTHERN MALI

REF: A. BAMAKO 00135

B. BAMAKO 00182


Classified By: Political Officer Aaron Sampson, Embassy Bamako,
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T BAMAKO 000186


NOFORN

RABAT FOR LEGATT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/24/2019
TAGS: PTER PINS PINR PREL ML
SUBJECT: TUAREGS CAPTURE THIRD KIDNAPPING SUSPECT IN
NORTHERN MALI

REF: A. BAMAKO 00135

B. BAMAKO 00182


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

1.(S/NF) Summary: Kidal Tuaregs led by Merzouk ag Acherif
captured Inteweka ag Ahmayed (aka Ousmane) on March 23 in the
northern Mali border town of In-Khalil. Reportedly based in
the southern Algerian town of Tamanrasset, Inteweka was one
of three Malian Tuaregs linked to the January 22 kidnappings
of four European tourists. The arrest operation targeted
Inteweka and renowned AQIM facilitator Asultan ould Badi.
Tuareg contacts reported that Merzouk missed capturing ould
Badi by minutes. The arrest came days after another
operation, also led by Merzouk, nabbed two other kidnapping
suspects near the town of Gao. In early March Merzouk and
another Kidal Taghat Melet Tuareg leader, Abdousalam ag
Assalat, tipped the Embassy off to their plans to arrest
individuals suspected of kidnapping westerners and turning
them over to AQIM (Ref. A). It now appears that Merzouk and
ag Assalat's citizens' arrest scheme has the tacit
endorsement of other senior Kidal Tuareg leaders united by
(1) indignation over the apparent involvement of Malian
Tuaregs in the European and Canadian kidnappings, and (2)
concern that a handful of Tuareg AQIM collaborators will
adversely impact the image and position of Mali's greater
Tuareg community. End Summary.

--------------
Another Kidnapping Arrest
--------------

2.(S/NF) A group of Taghat Melet Tuaregs led by Merzouk ag
Acherif captured Inteweka ag Ahmayed (aka Ousmane),also a
Taghat Melet, in the northern Malian border town of In-Khalil
on March 23. Tuareg contacts told the Embassy that Inteweka
would be handed over to Malian authorities on March 24. The
operation, which was meticulously planned by Merzouk and
others, was apparently designed to capture both Inteweka and
Asultan ould Badi. Ould Badi, however, reportedly left the
targeted residence in In-Khalil just minutes before the
operation began.

3.(S/NF) Inteweka is the third kidnapping suspect captured
by local Tuaregs in the space of one week (Ref. B). The two
arrest raids - one east of Gao and this one in In-Khalil -
have netted what appear to be two individuals of high
interest: Inteweka and Sidamar ag Ilaste. They have also
missed two individuals of note: ould Badi, and Mahama ag
Assarid who allegedly worked with Inteweka to pull off the
European kidnappings. It is unclear whether there are any
plans to try to capture ould Badi or ag Assarid again, given
that both presumably are now well aware that elements of
Kidal's Tuareg hierarchy are actively hunting them down.

--------------
Comment: Tuaregs Strike Back
--------------

4.(S/NF) We originally believed the sting operations
targeting kidnapping suspects were hatched by a small group
of Taghat Melet Tuaregs from Kidal led by Merzouk and ag
Assalat. It now appears that Merzouk has a much larger
coalition of support. Concerns about potential ramifications
for Mali's greater Tuareg community should Tuareg traffickers
be implicated in the kidnapping of westerners have reportedly
united leaders of several key Tuareg communities in northern
Mali - including the ruling Ifoghas group from Kidal - to
take matters into their own hands. Our understanding is that
Ifoghas and other Tuareg groups from Kidal have given Merzouk
the green light to hunt down suspected kidnapping suspects,
provided the heavy lifting remains a Taghat Melet, as opposed
to an Ifoghas, affair.

5.(S/NF) Tuaregs are clearly conflicted on the efficacy of
turning captured kidnapping suspects over to the Malian
authorities. On one hand, Tuaregs are acting in their own
interests to protect their image and reputation as opponents
of AQIM and preserve whatever is left of the security that is
essential for development in Kidal. On the other, Tuaregs
involved in the arrest operations are concerned that these
efforts will not only be for naught but could incur further,
much more personal dangers. When relaying details of
Inteweka's arrest on March 23, Tuaregs once again questioned
the long-term impact of such arrests, stating that Mali would
simply hold the individuals for a requisite amount of time
before releasing them or allowing them to "escape". There is
some merit to this observation. However, the capture of
individuals linked to the Canadian and European kidnappings
may force other traffickers in northern Mali looking to turn
a quick buck to think twice before capturing more hostages.


MILOVANOVIC