Amenokal’s son Mohamed Akhamoukh: we reached an agreement but France surprised us by war

Azwad and Ansar Dine’s representatives who attended a meeting with Hoggar and Mali’s tribal notables were surprised by the French anarchical attacks on Azwad’s people in northern Mali, said Amenokal’s son Mohamed Akhamoukh.

The meeting was held on January 11th-12th in the province of Adrar (south of Algiers) to find a peaceful solution for the crisis and establish reconciliation between conflict parts.

Although the meeting came up with the necessity of solving the problem through dialogue with Algeria’s mediation. “Yet, France precipitated things and chose military solution without prior notice,” he Akhamoukh told Echorouk.

“The solution is dialogue. I call on public authorities and Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to intervene and find a peaceful solution for the crisis. The French military intervention in Mali is weird,” he added.

Speaking about the situation of Algerians held hostage by Tawhid and Jihad movement, he said the issue was evoked during the meeting. Participants expressed their hope to open dialogue to solve the problem and free the hostages as soon as possible.

Tuareg’s notable Mahmoud Kemama: “if we wanted separation, we would have listened to Gaddafi”

Mahmoud Kemama, a notable among Tuaregs called on Algerian authorities to intervene quickly in order to protect Azwad’s people in Mali from French air strikes. “I trust the public authorities. The French military action is like the American intervention in Iraq.”

He said he afraid that the French forces would enter Algeria through its borders with Mali. “Tuareg people are mobilized in the southern provinces along with the army to protect the borders.”

He believes that Algeria’s Tuaregs will not move against authorities neither will they follow attempts to push Azwad’s people to stand against their government.

“Gaddafi tried to incite us against the regime. We refused and we remained faithful to our nation.”

According to Kemama, a large number of Malians is expected to enter the south of Algeria. “Jihadists and weapons may also enter because Algeria is the only way out.”

“A large Algerian community in Mali will be hit by the French war. Because of that, the difference must be made between terrorist groups and innocents. Azwad’s people affirmed their support to the war against terrorism,” he added.

“Algeria is the only hope for Azwad’s innocent people to save them from the war. Algerian authorities should keep trust between Mali and Algeria’s people.”

He believes that the decision of closing Algerian-Malian borders is sovereign and right. “Dialogue is the only solution to this crisis. I wonder when the war will end.”

He said Azwad’s people will be hit by the French intervention. “There is a difference between air and land military actions. Rebel groups know all the mountainous places and the French army cannot have control on it. Because of that, its operations will be anarchical and will target even innocents.”