Mali Reaches Peace Deal With Rebels, Tuaregs Ask For Time

The Malian government on Sunday signed a preliminary peace agreement with several rebel groups in the northern region of the country, while the Tuareg rebels asked for more time to decide.



Sunday's preliminary deal is the result of extended negotiations that began last July under international mediation led by Algeria.



"The Malian parties involved in the dialogue for the settlement of the crisis in northern Mali signed Sunday in Algiers a peace and reconciliation agreement," Algeria's official press agency reported.



"The document was signed by the representative of the Malian government, the armed movements of northern Mali and by the team of the mediation led by Algeria," the agency reported.



The mediation team comprised representatives from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union (AU), United Nations (UN), European Union (EU) and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Niger and Chad.



For its part, the Tuareg rebel alliance – which includes the Azawad National Liberation Movement (MNLA) – said that it needed more time to consult its grassroots before signing the deal.



The alliance "reiterated its conviction that the chances of implementing any agreement without involving people are extremely slim."



Last month, the Malian government and an alliance of Tuareg-led northern rebels reached a cease-fire agreement, which called for the cessation of hostilities and provocations and taking confidence-building measures by both sides, including the release of detainees.



Mali slipped into violence in 2012 following a failed coup attempt and a Tuareg rebellion that allowed Al-Qaeda-linked militants to take over the country's northern half.



In early 2013, former colonial power France sent troops to the North African country and – with the help of Chadian and other African forces – flushed Islamist militants from the country's main northern cities.



www.aa.com.tr/en - Alger