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Mali Government Meets with Key Rebel Groups

December 04, 2012

by VOA News

Mali is holding its first direct talks with two rebel groups that seized control in the country's north, in a bid to resolve the country's political crisis.

Top government officials gathered Tuesday for the preliminary talks with delegates from the MNLA Tuareg separatist group and the radical Islamist group Ansar Dine. The meeting is being hosted by Burkina Faso.

Mali was once considered one of West Africa's most stable countries, but it plunged into chaos after soldiers overthrew the government in March. MNLA and Ansar Dine rebels took control of the north soon after. Later, Ansar Dine and allied Islamist groups seized full control of the territory from the MNLA.

The U.N. Security Council is weighing a plan backed by the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to send 3,300 troops into northern Mali. And Burkina Faso officials say military action against the Islamist militants in the north remains an option, despite the talks.

In another development, the top U.S. military commander in Africa said al-Qaida and other extremists are strengthening their hold on northern Mali, but cautioned against what he calls "premature" military intervention.

General Carter Ham, head of the U.S. African Command, told a forum in Washington Monday that he thinks any action launched today would not be successful and would ultimately worsen current conditions. Ham promoted the use of negotiations before military intervention.

Ham backed an African-led solution in Mali, highlighting the recent successes of African Union forces and Somali soldiers in recapturing control of parts of Somalia from al-Shabab militants.

Ham added he is most worried about the growing collaboration among violent extremist groups, saying those links are the biggest threat to regional stability. Ham stated that the U.S. has seen "clear indications" of collaboration, including reports that the Nigerian Islamist group Boko Haram is receiving money, and probably training and explosives from al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

Ham noted that the relationship between Boko Haram and AQIM one that "goes both ways," with likely instances of Boko Haram militants traveling to training camps in northern Mali.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.