Slim chances for peace in northern Mali – Germany should not only train soldiers, but work towards peace too!

According to information by the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP), there are new clashes between Tuareg fighters, the army and pro-government militias. The human rights organization stated that at least 19 people got killed in the fighting in and around five villages and towns in the middle of the northwestern African country since the end of April 2015. "Germany must show commitment towards a just and lasting peace in Mali. Above all, Germany must initiate new negotiations for a peace treaty – since the interests of the Tuareg are not taken into account enough yet," said Ulrich Delius, the STP's Africa-consultant, in Göttingen on Wednesday. Currently, some of the soldiers who had taken part in the Bundeswehr's anti-terrorist training mission are also involved in the fighting in Mali.

"On February 26, 2015, when 516 members of the German Bundestag agreed to extend the EUTM training mission in Mali, they had probably intended to make a statement concerning the struggle against Muslim extremists," said Delius. "But they surely hadn't intended to intervene in the conflict between the Tuareg and the central government which has been going on since the founding of Mali." Ever since Germany became involved in the training mission, the STP had been warning that soldiers who were trained by the Bundeswehr would not only be combating radical Islamists, but would also be also be fighting against the Tuareg in the internal struggle over resources and land.

The recent clashes occurred following peace negotiations in which the government of Mali had rejected more political autonomy for the regions inhabited by Tuaregs, Arabs and Peulhs in the north of the country. On May 15, 2015, the Tuareg and Arab groups in northern Mali – who are organized in the "Coordination des Mouvements de l'Azawad (CMA)" – had then refused to sign a peace treaty to put an end to the conflict that once again flared up in January 2012. Since the early 60s, the Tuareg in northern Mali have repeatedly turned against the central government, demanding more autonomy and development projects for the long-neglected region.

The clashes were triggered when the town Menaka was taken by the pro-government Gatia-militia on April 28. At the beginning of May, following this breach of the ceasefire, armed Tuareg had attacked the places of Goundam, Ténenkou, Léré, Diré and Bintagoungou. At least nine soldiers and ten Tuareg fighters were killed.

Header Photo: Flickr/Micha Huniewicz