ECOWAS pressures Mali for Twaregs’ self determination

The British newspaper “The Guardian” has yesterday reported that leaders from the Economic Community Of West African States (ECOWAS) are exerting the Malian government to give the Twareg separatists their independence to join in the fight against Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in return.

• The Guardian has indicated that the ECOWAS intensifies efforts to dislodge the armed groups operating in Northern Mali through swaying moderate members from one of the influential Islamic groups that controls the region to join the Twareg forces.
• A Malian official who’s identity was not disclosed by the Guardian has revealed that a meeting is slated between the terrorist organization Ansar Eddine, the Movement of Azawad and the central government in the Malian capital Bamako next month, with the view to discussing the issue of self determination.
• The same official has indicated that the issue is not on the top of the agenda, but there should be an accord between all the parties that the utmost priority is to get rid of the terrorists in Northern Mali, after that the Malian government will fix the roadmap for this issue.