Taureg's Descend Upon Timbuktu in bid to Recapture their Inheritance...

reply to post by Biliverdin


the story describing the plot twist in this event sounds poorly scripted.

last year during the Libya collapse the Tuareg were portrayed as a group of people whom are held in the highest regard among all the governments that co-exist within their ancestral lands.

it is unlikely even that even the great al qaeda or any other group could be successful without their assistance, nor does it seem reasonable to suggest that any group could hold their ground without the Taureg continued support.

that being said, what I'm reading appears as if this newly formed group has committed suicide for no reason at all.

if the Tuareg did leave, it probably means that they have installed this group as leaders of the city to manage it on their behalf, while they continue to live a way of life they are accustomed to. if this is the case, negotiations with Mali will be quick and not involve military operations.

if the reports are accurate; however, Timbuktu is a prison for its new masters...as they can no longer receive Tuareg assistance and the Government of Mali is probably on its way. it they decide to make a last stand for Islam at Timbuktu...its going to be one of the saddest stories of the year.

Originally posted by michaelbrux
if the Tuareg did leave, it probably means that they have installed this group as leaders of the city to manage it on their behalf, while they continue to live a way of life they are accustomed to. if this is the case, negotiations with Mali will be quick and not involve military operations.

This would be my preferred scenario. Reporting of any sort seems to have dropped off, but hopefully there will be some coverage of the UN security council meeting tomorrow. It would be disasterous if the country is put under anymore sanctions and I sincerely hope that the UN do not support such measures, and offer some constructive support towards mediation.

Originally posted by michaelbrux
if the reports are accurate; however, Timbuktu is a prison for its new masters...as they can no longer receive Tuareg assistance and the Government of Mali is probably on its way. it they decide to make a last stand for Islam at Timbuktu...its going to be one of the saddest stories of the year.

I just don't believe that any of the factions would see any wisdom in that. It doesn't make any sense at all, and certainly not this soon...unless they are trying to draw fire. I feel that your assessment above makes the most sense, that they are merely holding the area for the Tuaregs, and that certain news agencies are just placing a spin on the stories in order to limit external sympathy for the Tuaregs, or to imply that the Tuaregs have been used as pawns in a bigger game. That just doesn't wash with me, or with what I have read about the situation over the past couple of days.

Official: Islamists impose sharia in Timbuktu

It seems that fake thugs got they vests chewed up in Timbuktu:

news.yahoo.com...

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — A government official and two other witnesses say the leader of an Islamic rebel faction has called a meeting in the northern city of Timbuktu to announce it will be imposing sharia law in the fabled desert outpost.
Mayor of Timbuktu Ousmane Halle said Wednesday that Iyad Ag Ghali, the leader of the Ansar Dine rebel faction, asked to see the city's imams on Tuesday. At the meeting, he announced they will soon require all women to be veiled.

Didn't Nostradamus predict the third anti christ would have a blue turban?

reply to post by cavtrooper7


he sure did, dude.

he sure did say that.

i suppose most people should be trying to determine if he was out of his mind...or if they are out of their's.

The UN Security Council's official statement...

The Security Council reiterates its strong condemnation of the forcible seizure of power from the democratically-elected Government of Mali by some elements of the Malian armed forces, and recalls in this regard its Press statement of 22 March 2012 and its Presidential statement of 26 March 2012. The Council calls on the mutineers to ensure the safety and security of all Malian officials and demands the immediate release of those detained. The Council renews its call for the immediate restoration of constitutional rule and the democratically-elected Government and for the preservation of the electoral process.

The Security Council supports the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which issued communiqués on 27 and 29 March 2012, and commends the work of President Blaise Compaore, as ECOWAS facilitator, in promoting the return to full civilian authority and the effective reestablishment of constitutional order in Mali. The Council also commends the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for West Africa and of the African Union in this regard and takes note of the announcement of the mutineers to restore constitutional rule as of April 1, 2012. The Council expects the mutineers to take immediate steps to effectively implement this commitment and will follow developments closely.

The Security Council strongly condemns the continued attacks, looting and seizure of territory carried out by rebel groups in the North of Mali and demands an immediate cessation of hostilities. The Council is alarmed by the presence in the region of the terrorist group Al Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, which could lead to a further destabilization of the security situation. The Council calls upon the rebels to immediately cease all violence and urges all parties in Mali to seek a peaceful solution through appropriate political dialogue. The Council stresses the importance of the safety of civilians and of the respect of human rights.

The Security Council reaffirms the need to uphold and respect the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Mali.

The Security Council renews its serious concern over the insecurity and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Sahel region.

The Council commends efforts of humanitarian organisations involved and calls on all parties in Mali to allow timely, safe and unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to civilians in need, in accordance with international law, including applicable international humanitarian law, and guiding principles of emergency humanitarian assistance. The Council calls for an increased mobilization of the international community to support humanitarian efforts.

The Security Council expresses its concern at the risk posed by fighting to Mali’s World Heritage sites.

The Security Council requests the Secretary General to update it, as appropriate, on developments in Mali and will remain seized of the matter.

usun.state.gov...

Concerns, condemnation and demands...but otherwise, the usual display of impotence

Mali's Tuareg rebels declare independence

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali's Tuareg rebels, who have seized control of the country's distant north in the chaotic aftermath of a military coup in the capital, declared independence Friday of their Azawad nation.
"We, the people of the Azawad," they said in a statement published on the rebel website, "proclaim the irrevocable independence of the state of the Azawad starting from this day, Friday, April 6, 2012."

news.yahoo.com...

It must be fun to be to be free...

From the Maps that have been shown...this nation called Azawad overlaps a number of northwest African States.

will military intervention against it cause the collapse of more states?

is it just a coincidence that the coup in Bamako occurred on 3/22 and that the capital Mali's name looks like Obama and that Obama has a daughter named Malia...

Originally posted by michaelbrux
is it just a coincidence that the coup in Bamako occurred on 3/22 and that the capital Mali's name looks like Obama and that Obama has a daughter named Malia...

Haha...yes I think it is...but an interesting one, none the less.

Witness: Islamist fighters execute Tuareg in Mali

news.yahoo.com...

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Residents in Mali attempting to flee the northern city of Gao, occupied for the past week by rival rebel factions, said they saw Islamist fighters cut the throat of a gunman, who is assumed to belong to the secular rebel group.

The incident appears to show that the Islamists are asserting their control in Gao, the largest city in the north, a region as large as France that fell to the Tuareg rebels a week ago in the aftermath of a coup in Bamako, Mali's capital.

The military chiefs of 13 of Mali's neighbors have held several meetings to plan a military invasion to take back the north. France has promised technical and logistical support.

Mali junta leader doesn't want foreign forces

BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — The head of Mali's military junta made clear Monday that he would have a powerful say over how the country is run in the weeks ahead, and does not want foreign forces helping reclaim the country's north from rebels who declared independence.

news.yahoo.com...